Data were obtained from a systematically selected cohort of 145 detainees housed at a State-operated, regional facility in a Southeastern State for at least 96 hours between mid-June and the end of September 1984. The youths participated in voluntary interviews. The interview form contained questions that measured subjects' physical abuse, sexual victimization, self-derogation, and illicit drug use. For both genders, sexual victimization had a primarily direct effect on drug use. The indirect effect of physical abuse on drug use was mediated by self-derogation. Further analysis indicated race did not affect the results. Youths' physical abuse and sexual victimization experiences merit serious consideration among the influences on youth to deviate from conventional norms. 1 table and 78 references. (Author abstract modified)