Antecedents and Consequences of Cocaine Use: An Eight-Year Study From Early Adolescence to Young Adulthood (From Drug Use and Abuse, P 158-181)

• NCJ Number: 161698
• Author(s): M D Newcomb; P M Bentler
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 24 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA01070
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

This study used a latent variable structural modeling method to explore drug use from early adolescence to young adulthood, based on data obtained from participants in an 8-year longitudinal study of adolescent development and drug use.

Abstract

The study began in 1976 with a group of 1,634 students in the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. Variables reflecting latent factors of drug use, academic orientation, social conformity, and emotional distress were assessed at 1, 5, and 9 years. Variables for social support latent factors were measured in late adolescence and young adulthood, while variables for a latent construct of drug problems were assessed only in young adulthood. Finally, in years 5 and 9, more detailed measures of cocaine use were used to reflect constructs of cocaine involvement. Findings demonstrated that cocaine involvement and drug use during late adolescence could not be separated empirically. Early adolescent drug use was significantly correlated with less academic orientation and less social conformity at all three time points, more emotional distress in early adolescence, more drug use, more cocaine involvement, and less social support during late adolescence but not young adulthood. Late adolescent drug use was significantly correlated with less social conformity, more emotional distress, and less social support at years 5 and 9 and with more drug problems during young adulthood. Drug use in both late adolescence and young adulthood was predicted from earlier drug use and lack of social conformity. Young adult cocaine involvement was predicted from low law abidance and drug use in late adolescence. Precursors of drug problems in young adulthood were earlier drug use, lack of social support, and lack of law abidance. Early adolescent drug use increased later drug use and decreased academic performance and self-derogation, all in late adolescence. Overall, theories suggesting specific antecedents and consequences of cocaine use were not supported in the study sample. 61 references, 4 tables, and 2 figures