NCJ Number
153969
Journal
Addiction Research Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (1994) Pages: 1-20
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Cocaine-using careers are discussed from an integrative perspective based on a review of the articles in this special issue of Addiction Research and findings regarding patterns of cocaine use among a representative sample of the United States population.
Abstract
Much of what is known about cocaine-using careers has been obtained in studies of treatment or criminal justice populations. However, studying cocaine users among community-based samples of users challenges common stereotypes about cocaine users. These studies conclude that although many cocaine users escalated their use for some period of time, most also deescalated their use. The frequency of cocaine use, the use of other drugs, and the mode of administration were related to adverse consequences. The users had a variety rules to keep their cocaine use from becoming compulsive. Most importantly, many controlled users were fully socially integrated and placed great importance on their family, jobs, and other roles and responsibilities, so cocaine use had to find its place among a number of competing activities. Footnotes and 29 references