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Period, Age, and Cohort Effects on Substance Use Among Young Americans: A Decade of Change, 1976-86

NCJ Number
121843
Journal
American Journal of Public Health Volume: 78 Issue: 10 Dated: (1989) Pages: 1315-1321
Author(s)
P M O'Malley; J G Bachman; L D Johnston
Date Published
1989
Length
7 pages
Annotation
Annual national surveys of representative samples of high school seniors and annual followup surveys of each senior class formed the basis of this analysis of factors related to alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among young Americans between 1976 and 1986.
Abstract
The analysis examined 12 classes of illicit drugs and identified several different types of period, age, and cohort effects over the last decade. Findings showed that some substances are declining in popularity, while others are not. An increase in the perceived risk of harm from regular marijuana use appears to have led directly to a decline in marijuana use. In addition, leaving the parental home seems to lead to an increase in use of marijuana, whereas marriage seems to lead to to a decrease. The measure of occasions of heavy drinking follows a similar pattern, and the interpretation would be similar to that for marijuana. In contrast, the decline in the use of tranquilizers, barbiturates, and amphetamines may have resulted from the recent decline in physicians' prescriptions of these drugs. Nevertheless, the drug problem remains an important public health issue, with substantial use of alcohol and tobacco and disturbingly high rates of use of marijuana and cocaine. The cohort-sequential design used in this study can continue to contribute to the search for causal factors. Table, figures, and references. (Author abstract modified)