NCJ Number
148918
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1994) Pages: 236-255
Date Published
1994
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study examined the impact of adolescent substance use on adult substance use and criminal behavior.
Abstract
As participants in a longitudinal study, individuals provided data as adolescents in 1969 and 1971-73 and again as young adults in 1980-81. The subject were mainly from white, middle-income families. At followup in 1980 and 1981, the participation rate was 79 percent (1,521). All data except peer ratings of socialization were obtained from self-report questionnaires. Measures pertained to adolescent socialization, peer ratings of personality, adolescent drug use, adult ethical/conventional behavior, adult drug use, time of first use, adult deviance, property damage, and accidents. Longitudinal data from 657 participants were assessed over 12 years (1969-1981). Latent variable models were used to determine what effect, if any, adolescent drug use had on later deviance. In addition, constructs relevant to traditional theories of social control, such as the extent of socialization and obedience to rules, were also included as predictors. The results showed that a general drug-use factor in adolescence significantly predicted adult illicit substance use, theft, and interpersonal aggression. Drug-related accidents (automobile and other) were also predicted from adolescent drug use. These findings are consistent with several theories that suggest various forms of deviance may influence each other over time. 4 tables, 1 figure, and 46 references