NCJ Number
131983
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 21 Issue: 3 Dated: (1991) Pages: 255-268
Date Published
1991
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This study examines the interactive nature of age in predicting alcohol, marijuana, and drug use based on a sample of 435 students from schools in a north-central county of Illinois.
Abstract
Administered in 1987, information for this study was collected from a self-report study based on a sample of seventh and eleventh grade students from four junior and senior high schools in a mixed urban county. Results indicate that age and family have significant interactive influences on alcohol and hard drug use; age and church participation have significant interactive effects on marijuana and hard drug use as well, and age and peer interactively influence alcohol usage. The interaction of age with other factors varies by type of usage. The patterns of interaction were different between alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs, although there were also commonalities. Various theories predicting adolescent involvement in alcohol, marijuana, and drug use may find other important sets of interactions such as gender, personality, or family background. Prevention programs should focus on three dimensions: age, factors interactive with age, and the type of substance. 5 tables, 1 figure, and 21 references (Author abstract modified)