Target populations have always been a thorny issue for correctional programs. In this experiment of seamless treatment for probationers in two sites, offenders were randomly assigned to the seamless model (drug treatment incorporated into probation supervision) or traditional referral model to services in the community. The experiment blocked on…

HIV-negative, inner-city adolescents with HIV-infected parents are considered to be at high risk for acquiring HIV themselves. Using a modified theory of health behavior, this study examined the effects of maternal HIV infection and psychosocial variables on the onset of sexual and drug risk behavior in 144 HIV-negative adolescents with and…

Many adolescents experiment with marijuana; the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that 46% of high school seniors have tried this drug at some time. Pushing boundaries is what young people do, and some researchers believe that trying marijuana is a normal part of growing up. RAND Corporation researchers have revisited Shedler and Block's…

Based on the conceptualization of successful development as the joint maximization of desirable outcomes and minimization of undesirable outcomes (Baltes, 1997), the present study examined connections between adolescent non-involvement in multiple risk behaviors and positive developmental status. Results from a survey of 7290 high school students…

The present study investigated whether adolescent cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, and hard drug use predicts life satisfaction in young adulthood. Survey data were used from a longitudinal cohort of 2376 adolescents at ages 18 and 29, originally recruited from California and Oregon middle schools at age 13. Results of multivariate models indicated…

This report contains national estimates of Americans' perceptions of the availability of various illicit drugs and of the risk of harm associated with their drug use. These 1992 estimates are part of an ongoing national survey. The report analyzes three basic perceptions concerning drugs: (1) the relationship between perceptions and use; (2)…

Adolescent substance abuse is determined by a complex of factors, and influences on it may vary as a function of developmental level. According to the social development model (Hawkins et al., 1986), family influences on substance abuse may be strongest in preschool and early school-age children; family and school influences may be equal during…

This study examined psychosocial correlates of substance abuse during late adolescence. Older adolescents' (N=276) aged 17-22, self-reported use of marijuana, cocaine, and other illicit drugs was examined in relation to several psychosocial variables, including sensation seeking, aggression, self-esteem, depression, and perceived peer prevalence…

Changing alcohol and drug use patterns among women and ethnic minorities, such as the over-representation of Hispanics in alcohol-related deaths, drunk driving arrests, and treatment facilities, emphasize the importance of understanding substance use patterns in these populations. This study attempted to identify a single cause of substance abuse…

Substance abuse among adolescents is modeled and reinforced by the peer culture. Experimentation with drugs seems to have become a typical part of normal adolescent development. The solution to adolescent substance abuse will only be arrived at through gathering facts and designing intervention programs based on those facts. Since the two most…

Basic research and programs in substance abuse dealing directly with rural and small town populations lag far behind those aimed at urban groups, in both quality and quantity. A study was conducted to identify factors related to substance use by a preadolescent and early adolescent rural and small town population. Data were collected from 496…

It is important to examine the correlates of drug use and abuse among early adolescents to identify common patterns and factors of the beginning stages of drug abuse. The relationships between personal substance use, health beliefs, peer use, stated intention to use drugs in the future, sex, and religion were examined using data collected from 265…

Based on large-scale surveys of high school seniors in the classes of 1975 through 1984, this paper presents findings which have a bearing on the quality of life of young people. Most seniors planned and hoped for marriage, children, and material well-being; however, the last few graduating classes showed increased concern about attaining those…

The Monitoring the Future project was created to assess the changing lifestyles, values, and preferences of American youth on a continuing basis. Trends in marijuana use and related attitudes were investigated, and alternative hypotheses about the linkage between attitudes and behaviors were examined. Data were obtained using questionnaires…

During the past decade there have been several important trends in drug use. Cigarette use peaked in 1976 and 1977 and declined thereafter. Marijuana use rose through 1978 and 1979 and then began to decline. Cocaine use rose until 1981 and has remained constant since. This study examined findings from 12 nationwide surveys representing the high…