Data were collected as part of an ongoing longitudinal study to identify the relative contribution of childhood risk factors to the etiology of adolescent drug use initiation, frequent drug use, and delinquency and to test the effect of preventive interventions. Data collection began in 1981 with a panel of 568 eighth grade students in eight schools in the Seattle, Washington, school district. In 1985, when subjects entered fifth grade, the panel was expanded to include all fifth grade students in 18 Seattle elementary schools. Surveys were administered to students in classrooms by project personnel who read aloud each question and associated response categories. Of 1,053 students in participating schools, 924 completed the fall 1985 survey and 919 or 87 percent produced usable data. In the spring 1986 survey, 778 or 74 percent of fall respondents completed usable surveys. The student panel was 47 percent white, 22 percent black, and 22 percent Asian American. Controlling for socioeconomic status, racial groups differed from each other in self-reported delinquency, school trouble, and toughness and in teacher-rated aggressiveness and inattention. Antisocial behavior and attitudes were stronger predictors of substance use initiation for Asian American than for black and white children. For white children, both self-reported and teacher-rated behavior were significantly related to substance use initiation. For black children, only self-reported antisocial behavior, and for Asian American children only self-reported delinquent behavior and attitudes predicted drug use. Implications of the study findings for prevention and research are discussed. 40 references and 2 tables (Author abstract modified)