NCJ Number
185294
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 19 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2000 Pages: 181-190
Editor(s)
John B. Saunders
Date Published
June 2000
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Recognizing concern about young people and stimulant drugs has focused on amphetamines, ecstasy, and more recently cocaine hydrochloride (powder cocaine) in the United Kingdom, this study examined patterns of illicit drug use, with a particular focus on cocaine consumption, among a sample of 364 young drug users between 16 and 22 years of age.
Abstract
The sample was recruited using snowballing methods and respondents were interviewed in informal settings by peer interviewers. More than half the sample reported lifetime use of powder cocaine, and more than 40 percent had used crack cocaine. A 17-item scale was used to measure cocaine-related problems. The three most common problems endorsed by cocaine users were impaired control, prioritizing spending money on cocaine over other things, and being preoccupied with using the drug. In multiple regression analysis, 50 percent of the variance in cocaine-related problem scores was predicted by the perceived functions for cocaine use, the number of times of lifetime cocaine use, and the total number of days of recent stimulant use. The use of cocaine to alleviate a depressed state or a negative mood was the most powerful predictor of cocaine problems. The authors conclude that a functional appraisal component could be usefully incorporated in further research studies and in service assessment protocols to predict drug-related problems in young people. 22 references, 5 tables, and 1 figure