Discusses the emergence of new types of abused drugs in the United States. Notes that young persons often search for substitutes for better-known substances. It is unclear, however, what factors determine the choice of drug or substance for experimentation, considering the wide range of choices. This paper attempts to delineate the factors that…

Presents a case study of one subject's life history, obtained from depth interviews, which reveals the process of change from involvement to noninvolvement in drug use and criminal activity. Explains how, for this subject, rehabilitation was facilitated by specific structural factors which interacted with and altered personal values. (Author/NRB)

Examined the relationships between adolescent drug use (N=145) and perceived parent attitudes and behaviors. Relationships between parental use of drugs and adolescent use of the same drugs were moderate and roughly equivalent across drugs. Parental use of marijuana was strongly related to the adolescent's use of harder drugs. (JAC)

Examined parental drug use and parental attitude toward adolescent drug use in 106 drug-using and 96 nondrug-using adolescents. Results confirmed that adolescents who use drugs are significantly more likely to have parents who use drugs, or have permissive views about drug use. (JAC)

Investigated marijuana knowledge, attitudes, use, and peer pressure among Canadian adolescents. Results indicated that peer pressure is not pervasive, that it can be resisted, and that it is not stigmatizing to not use drugs. (BL)

Examines the extent to which alcohol and other drug use is related to violent and nonviolent criminal activity among adolescent males. Findings, based on 312 youthful offenders, suggest that, in comparison to marijuana and heroin, alcohol use is more strongly and consistently associated with both violent and nonviolent offenses. (RJM)

Discusses the moral issues relating to surveillance of adolescent marijuana use and postulates a justification for clinical screening. Asserts that surveillance under a private physician offers a better chance for success than public health screening for marijuana use. (Author/ABB)

Reviewed literature which suggested nine family factors that influence children's drug use. Conducted one-on-one interviews with 48 students to compare family factors of drug users with those of drug abusers. Results showed drug abusers were from families that had a communication gap and either laissez faire or authoritarian discipline. (BH)

Explored the relationship between youthful subculture attitudes toward hedonism, immediate gratification, and drug use in a longitudinal study of California youths (N=23 and N=72). Specific attitude measures indicated no relationship between degree of drug use and youth subculture attitudes. (JAC)

Explores the relationship of parent-child communication to youth drug involvement by analyzing data from substance abuse surveys. It was found that: parents are most often identified as the individuals who have talked to children about drugs; youth consider parents to be credible sources of information about drugs; and as perceived family…

Compared behavior of college students who wore costumes on Halloween with those who did not. Findings from 805 females and 448 males surveyed over 5-year period revealed significant associations between dressing in costume and drinking alcohol and between masquerading with group and using marijuana and other drugs. Found no significant…

Examined male transition-marking behaviors from adolescence into adulthood at first intercourse. Findings from 80 adolescent males revealed that alcohol use at first intercourse was unrelated to use of contraceptives at that time but was inversely related to whether first intercourse was planned. Planning was positively related to contraceptive…

Studied relationship between gender and delinquency among inner-city adolescents (n=64) in court diversion program. Males were more likely to be referred for violations of law, to have been arrested, and to have engaged in aggressive offenses/selling drugs. Females were more likely to be referred because of status offenses. Gang membership had…

Surveyed seventh-grade students from two school districts in rural North Carolina to determine the prevalence and correlates of smokeless tobacco use. Of those reporting use of smokeless tobacco, virtually all were male. Locus of control of "occasional" users was significantly more internal than those reporting "regular" use.…