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Initiation and Progression of Alcohol, Marijuana, and Cocaine Use Among Adolescent Abusers
Author(s) -
Dupre Deirdre,
Miller Norman,
Gold Mark,
Rospenda Kathy
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
the american journal on addictions
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.997
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1521-0391
pISSN - 1055-0496
DOI - 10.1111/j.1521-0391.1995.tb00257.x
Subject(s) - peer pressure , alcohol , psychological intervention , hotline , medicine , psychiatry , cannabis , psychology , clinical psychology , social psychology , telecommunications , biochemistry , chemistry , computer science
Adolescent alcohol and drug use are associated with many negative consequences. Understanding factors in initiation and patterns of use could aid in treatment and prevention. Sixty‐four adolescents calling a cocaine hotline received structured telephone interviews. Mean age was 16.7 years. Two‐thirds of the adolescents were young men. Sixty‐six percent used alcohol; 60.9%, marijuana; 60.9%, cocaine; mean onset was at 13.57, 13.28, and 14.64 years, respectively. Daily use of alcohol was reported by 25.8%; marijuana, 36.9%; and cocaine, 41.3%. Eighty‐four percent tried drugs because of peer pressure. Multiple alcohol/drug use commonly started in early adolescence. Peer use and pressure were major reasons for initiation. Early interventions can incorporate and make use of these factors.