A stratified cluster sampling procedure was employed to randomly select students from intact classes, and questionnaires were administered by trained staff. Response rates within classes ranged from 97 to 100 percent. An anonymous questionnaire was used to collect data on student alcohol and other drug use habits and attitudes. The greatest number of students per stage included those not thinking of using cocaine (99 percent) and smokeless tobacco (98 percent), those not thinking of stopping alcohol use (43 percent), those thinking about or beginning to use alcohol (9 percent), and those thinking about or starting to quit cigarette smoking (7 percent). Motivation to avoid a certain drug was significantly associated with the stage status of that drug for all drugs studied. Alcohol users represented a largely entrenched group in that most drinkers did not intend to stop. Most cigarette smokers, however, were considering or attempting to stop. Differences in stage classification support the importance of taking into account individual differences among young adults regarding their level of drug use risk. 20 references and 3 tables