The research hypothesis that increased stress during and/or before adolescence would be associated with increased drug use was examined using information from a 50-item list of stressful life events and from instruments that gathered data on drug abuse and demographic characteristics. Results showed that all high school students are under stress because of their age, that stresses are cumulative, and that both positive and negative events represent stresses. In addition, youths perceive drug use to be the norm rather than the deviant behavior. Furthermore, the use of cigarettes is the entry level into drug abuse and that most drug abuse starts before or during junior high school. Results also indicated that increased life stress levels are significantly associated with increased drug abuse. Table and 9 references