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Stages of Progression in Drug Involvement From Adolescence to Adulthood: Further Evidence for the Gateway Theory

NCJ Number
140418
Journal
Journal of Studies on Alcohol Dated: (September 1992) Pages: 447- 457
Author(s)
D B Kandel; K Yamaguchi; K Chen
Date Published
1992
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Sequential stages of involvement in alcohol and/or cigarettes, marijuana, and other illicit drugs and medically prescribed psychoactive drugs from adolescence to adulthood were investigated in a longitudinal cohort that was followed between 15 and 35 years of age.
Abstract
Data were obtained from 1,160 young adults representative of adolescents formerly enrolled in grades 10 and 11 in New York State public secondary schools. Structured personal interviews collected information on the history of using 12 drugs or drug classes. The following stages of progression in drug involvement from adolescence to adulthood were identified: legal drugs, alcohol or cigarettes, marijuana, illicit drugs other than marijuana, and medically prescribed drugs. Whereas progression to illicit drugs among men depended on prior alcohol use, either cigarette or alcohol use was a sufficient condition for women's progression to marijuana. Age of onset and frequency of use at a lower stage of drug use were strong predictors of further progression. Most users of illicit drugs other than marijuana had used cocaine. An appendix provides additional information on drug use progression. 49 references, 7 tables, and 2 figures