NCJ Number
156654
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 28 Issue: 3 Dated: (1993) Pages: 249-255
Date Published
1993
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study used survey data from 197 11th grade students from a predominantly rural area to test relationships between first and current uses of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drugs.
Abstract
The findings showed that interrelationships between years of experience of alcohol, marijuana, and hard drug use were predicted by a developmental model. Early use of alcohol predicted early use of marijuana. Early use of marijuana predicted early use of other drugs. Years of experience also correlated to current use for each of the three substances. The causal sequence for first use, however, was reversed for current use; current hard drug use reinforced current marijuana use, which was linked to current alcohol use. The model explained 51.6, 60.4, and 42.4 percent of the variances in current use of hard drugs, marijuana, and alcohol, respectively. 1 table, 1 figure, and 14 references