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The natural history of drug use from adolescence to the mid-thirties in a general population sample

Author

Listed:
  • Chen, K.
  • Kandel, D.B.

Abstract

Objectives. This study sought to describe patterns of initiation, persistence, and cessation in drug use in individuals from their late 20s to their mid-30s, within a broad perspective that spans 19 years from adolescence to adulthood. Methods. A fourth wave of personal interviews was conducted at ages 34-35 with a cohort of men and women (n = 1160) representative of adolescents formerly enrolled in Now York State public secondary high schools. A school survey was administered at ages 15-16, and personal interviews with participants and school absentees were conducted at ages 24-25 and 28-29. Retrospective continuous histories of 12 drug classes were obtained at each follow-up. Results. There was no initiation into alcohol and cigarettes and hardly any initiation into illicit drugs after age 29, the age at which most use ceased. The largest proportion of new users was observed for prescribed psychoactives. Periods of highest use since adolescence based on relative and absolute criteria were delineated. Among daily users, the proportions of heavy users declined for alcohol and marijuana but not for cigarettes. Conclusions. Cigarettes are the most persistent of any drug used. Drug-focused interventions must target adolescents and young adults.

Suggested Citation

  • Chen, K. & Kandel, D.B., 1995. "The natural history of drug use from adolescence to the mid-thirties in a general population sample," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 85(1), pages 41-47.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1995:85:1:41-47_5
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    Cited by:

    1. Mansion, Andre D. & Chassin, Laurie, 2016. "The effect of race/ethnicity on the relation between substance use disorder diagnosis and substance use treatment receipt among male serious adolescent offenders," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 237-244.
    2. Laura Bogart & Rebecca Collins & Phyllis Ellickson & David Klein, 2007. "Are Adolescent Substance Users Less Satisfied with Life as Young Adults and if so, Why?," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 81(1), pages 149-169, March.
    3. Denney, Andrew S. & Connor, David Patrick, 2016. "Serious juvenile offenders who have experienced emerging adulthood: Substance use and recidivism," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 11-19.
    4. Havlicek, Judy R. & Garcia, Antonio R. & Smith, Douglas C., 2013. "Mental health and substance use disorders among foster youth transitioning to adulthood: Past research and future directions," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 194-203.
    5. Caroline North & C. Nathan Marti & Alexandra Loukas, 2021. "Longitudinal Impact of Depressive Symptoms and Peer Tobacco Use on the Number of Tobacco Products Used by Young Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-11, October.
    6. Silvia Mendolia & Ian Walker, 2014. "The Effect Of Noncognitive Traits On Health Behaviours In Adolescence," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 23(9), pages 1146-1158, September.
    7. Maralani, Vida, 2013. "Educational inequalities in smoking: The role of initiation versus quitting," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 129-137.
    8. Homish, Gregory G. & Leonard, Kenneth E., 2005. "Spousal influence on smoking behaviors in a US community sample of newly married couples," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 61(12), pages 2557-2567, December.
    9. Yih-Ing Hser & Douglas Longshore & M. Douglas Anglin, 2007. "The Life Course Perspective on Drug Use," Evaluation Review, , vol. 31(6), pages 515-547, December.
    10. Brown, Adam & Courtney, Mark E. & Curtis McMillen, J., 2015. "Behavioral health needs and service use among those who've aged-out of foster care," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 163-169.
    11. Donata Bessey, 2018. "Preferences, personality and health behaviors: results from an explorative economic experiment," International Journal of Health Economics and Management, Springer, vol. 18(4), pages 437-456, December.
    12. Henriettae Ståhlbrandt & Anders Leifman & Kent O. Johnsson & Mats Berglund, 2010. "Alcohol Trajectories over Three Years in a Swedish Residence Hall Student Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-16, March.
    13. Sandra Müller & Gerhard Gmel, 2002. "Veränderungen des Einstiegsalters in den Cannabiskonsum: Ergebnisse der zweiten Schweizer Gesundheitsbefragung 1997," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 47(1), pages 14-23, March.
    14. Francisco Caamano-Isorna & Amy Adkins & Fazil Aliev & Lucía Moure-Rodríguez & Danielle M. Dick, 2020. "Population Attributable Fraction of Early Age of Onset of Alcohol Use in Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study in University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-16, March.
    15. Allen Goodman & Janet Hankin & Eleanor Nishiura & James Sloan, 1999. "Impacts of Insurance on the Demand and Utilization of Drug Abuse Treatment: Implications for Insurance Mandates," International Journal of the Economics of Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 6(3), pages 331-348.
    16. Li, Yi & Guo, Guang, 2020. "Heterogeneous peer effects on marijuana use: Evidence from a natural experiment," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 252(C).
    17. Andersson, Matthew A. & Maralani, Vida, 2015. "Early-life characteristics and educational disparities in smoking," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 138-147.

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