The 24 participants were first interviewed in October 1996 and were 16 years old when interviewed a second time in June 1997. The interviews encouraged participants to use storytelling methods to discuss their own and others' drug experiences in their own words. Results revealed that in the 9 months between their first and second interviews, most of the participants who had tried or used drugs had modified their behavior. Some had reduced their drug use, some had changed which drugs they used, and others had widened their drug repertoire. Abstainers showed signs of acknowledging and accommodating the behavior of drug-using peers they regarded as sensible. Some were themselves contemplating the possibility of trying a drug in a specific social situation, often a dance club. Participants relied on a wide variety of information sources to make decisions about drug use. Factors used to make decisions included financial costs, access and availability, effects, possibilities of being caught, and others. Social and lifestyle changes also affected drug use. Abstainers were more satisfied with school-based drug education than were drug users. Participants displayed confusion and sometimes contradiction in what they said and what they did, due both to their developmental stage and to societal confusion and contradiction on the issues. Tables, appended methodological information, and 13 references