Reasons for Drug Use Among American Youth by Consumption Level, Gender, and Race/Ethnicity: 1976-2005

• NCJ Number: 229081
• Journal: Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 39 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 2009 Pages: 677-714
• Author(s): Yvonne M. Terry-McElrath; Patrick M. O'Malley; Lloyd D. Johnston
• Date Published: 2009
• Length: 38 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA01411
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study identified self-reported reasons for American youth to use nine substances, based on reports of representative samples of U.S. high school seniors who participated in the Monitoring the Future study from 1976 through 2005.

Abstract

Social/recreational rewards ("to get high," "to have a good time," and "to experiment" with drug effects) were most often cited as reasons for using most drugs; however, the reasons most often given for using psychotherapeutic drugs pertained to coping with negative emotions and physical needs. Significant differences in reported reasons for using drugs were found between boys and girls; boys were more likely to report social/recreational and drug-effect reasons for using substances; whereas, girls were more likely to report using drugs to cope with negative emotions and physical needs. Significant differences by race/ethnicity were also found; White drug users were somewhat more likely to report social/recreational reasons for drug use, and minority racial/ethnic youth were more likely to report addictive reasons for using specific substances. Findings suggest that prevention strategies should focus on nondrug alternatives for having a good time and/or feeling good. Research on the effects of anti-tobacco messages indicate that the most powerful prevention messages may be those that accurately and directly address the harms associated with the use of specific substances. The promotion of constructive strategies for coping with negative emotions and physical needs could also divert youth from relying on drugs to address these needs. The obtained total weighted sample size used in the current analyses was 75,515 12th graders. All of these youth answered survey questions about their reasons for using drugs. The drugs cited in the questioning were alcohol, barbiturates, tranquilizers, narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, and cocaine. 13 tables, 12 figures, and 46 references