The NYS is a projected longitudinal study of delinquent behavior, alcohol and drug use, and problem-related substance use among American youth. To date, seven waves of data have been collected for the period 1976-86. The data reported in this study are limited to 1976-83. With the exception of age differences in alcohol and marijuana use between 11- and 17-year-olds, none of the relationships between demographic variables and delinquency and ADM problems are strong. Most are in the expected direction, but many fail to reach statistical significance; and most, if measured by a correlation coefficient, fail to reach substantive significance as well. Mean differences, however, tell a different story for some variables. Sex is related to offending patterns, to alcohol and drug use, and to depression and mental health service use. Regarding race, blacks tend to have as high or higher prevalence for serious offenses, and whites have as high or higher prevalence for less serious offenses and for alcohol and polydrug use. Social class is related only to the more serious offenses, with the lower class having higher prevalence. There is a weak relationship between urban residence and delinquency, alcohol and drug use, and mental health. 5 tables.