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 school graduating classes of 1975 through 1986 to consider whether the shifts in drug use could be attributed to overall upward and downward trends in correlates of drug use and/or to changes in the patterns of correlations. The results showed drug use to be above average among subjects who had trouble adjusting to the educational environment, spent many evenings out for recreation, had heavy time commitments to a job, and had relatively high incomes. Drug use continued to be below average among those with strong religious commitments and those with conservative political views. Some shifts were found in the strength of certain variables' correlations with drug use. Both political conservatism and religious commitment have become less closely linked to drug use, particularly to marijuana use. (Author/NB)