NCJ Number
206133
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 2004 Pages: 389-418
Date Published
2004
Length
30 pages
Annotation
In order to test the assertion by some that today's adolescent drug users are "ordinary" people with "normal lives," this study examined characteristics of various categories of drug users by analyzing data from a general-population study of youth in Norway (n=2,761).
Abstract
The data used in this study were from the large-scale longitudinal survey, "Young in Norway." Lifetime rates and frequency of cannabis use during the past year were assessed at all three waves of data collection. In addition to measuring the personal substance use, antisocial behavior, and criminal behavior of the sample at various times, the study also obtained data on peers' substance use and criminal activities, parental social class, and symptoms of anxiety. The study found an excess of psychosocial problems among drug users in the general population of young adults in Norway, notably among users of ecstasy and other Class A drugs. Compared to nonusers of drugs, "pure" cannabis users also tended to have a deviant profile, despite the fact that the majority had taken the drug only a few times during the past year. The hypothesis that ecstasy users in their early 20's are more likely than their teenage counterparts to be well adjusted was not supported. They were characterized by excessive use of other substances, a less favorable psychosocial family background, a preponderance of mental health problems, and elevated rates of criminal offending as well as frequent involvement in other antisocial behaviors. 4 tables and 83 references