NCJ Number
158395
Date Published
1992
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study draws from social control theory to explore the effect of changes during the transition from adolescence to adulthood on changes in patterns of alcohol and marijuana use.
Abstract
Specifically, drug use 2 years after high school graduation was regressed on drug use during the final year of high school. The influence of respondents' job commitment was measured 12 months after graduation, as were their associations with delinquent friends. Marital status, job stability, living arrangements, and educational commitment were monitored for the entire 2 years of the study. Separate analyses examined the effects of gender and race upon the study question, since these characteristics structure the transition to adulthood. The results showed that, with the exception of job stability in the case of alcohol use, none of these informal social control processes were important predictors of change in either alcohol or marijuana use. However, drug use during high school significantly predicted increased drug use 2 years later. The results also indicated that having delinquent friends and spending large amounts of time in bars led to increased drug and alcohol use. 3 tables, 3 notes, and 56 references