The Emergence of Adolescent Substance Use

Abstract

This longitudinal study examines patterns of emerging substance use among sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students in two New England towns. The results show substantial levels of experimentation and use extending down to the sixth grade and variations in use level depending on the students' community, sex, race, and parents' marital status. This study also examines rates at which students were offered various substances and, by comparing use and offer rates, charts rejection/acceptance rates for the gateway substances across the three grades. The findings suggest the notion of critical periods for substance use initiation and underscore the importance of understanding these early use patterns as the first step in the design and implementation of primary prevention programs.