NCJ Number
153132
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 24 Issue: 1 and 2 Dated: (Winter/Spring 1994) Pages: 55-74
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
Data from a longitudinal study of male and female youths were used to examine the association between cumulative levels of delinquency and drug use from early adolescence to young adulthood.
Abstract
Adolescents were originally selected through a random telephone survey. A total of 1,380 subjects who represented three birth cohorts (1967-1969, 1964-1966, and 1961-1963) were tested initially between 1979 and 1981 at the ages of 12, 15, and 18, respectively. These subjects returned 3 years later in 1982-1984 and again in 1985-1987 and were retested using essentially the same battery of instruments. The data were obtained through self- report questionnaires. Five substance-use measures were included in the analyses. Other variables measured pertained to problem behavior as coping reactions to stressful situations and psychological problems and personality characteristics. Findings show that delinquency and drug use are two distinct dimensions of problem behavior. Subjects were categorized into four groups based on their cumulative levels of drug use and delinquency over a 9-year period. Group differences in the reactive coping use of problem behaviors, in psychological problems, and in personality traits were assessed. Results indicate that subjects who were high in both drug use and delinquency had significantly higher levels of mental health problems than all other subjects. Overall, the findings support the notion that the expression of deviance is not necessarily undifferentiated. Instead, different individuals may specialize in different forms of deviance. 4 tables and 69 references