NCJ Number
195255
Journal
Addiction Volume: 97 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2002 Pages: 517-531
Date Published
2002
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Using prospective analyses, this study examined directional influences between alcohol and tobacco use by adolescents; initiation versus persistence of drinking and smoking were characterized as a function of the use of the other substance.
Abstract
Data were obtained from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (AddHealth) and the Adolescent Health Risk Study (AHRS). Follow-up intervals for AddHealth and AHRS were 1 and 5 years, respectively. AddHealth respondents (n=4,831) were on average 14.8 years old (48 percent male, 23 percent Black, and 61 percent white); and AHRS respondents (n=1,814) averaged 16.7 years old (47 percent male, 44 percent Black, and 49 percent white). Two alcohol-consumption variables and two smoking variables were measured: the frequency of drinking and the frequency of heavy drinking, as well as regular (current) smoking and daily number of cigarettes. The study found that both alcohol use and tobacco use increased through adolescence and into young adulthood. Men and white respondents reported more use than women and Black respondents. Alcohol use and tobacco use were moderately associated at both times. Prior alcohol use predicted tobacco use more strongly than the converse; i.e., initiation of smoking was a function of prior drinking. To a lesser extent, initiation of drinking was a function of prior smoking. Persistence of smoking was a function of prior drinking, and persistence of drinking was a function of prior smoking. These findings provide provisional support for the belief that alcohol use predicts tobacco use more strongly than the converse. For both drinking and smoking, initiation and persistence were related to prior use of the other substance. These associations were strong across sex and ethnicity. Limitations of the study are noted. 1 table and 52 references