The authors studied drug use in a representative sample of suburban
junior and senior high school students. They found high levels of drug use
overall and a substantial amount of drug involvement among junior high
school students. They also found that drugs were used in clusters, that
there was a distinctive age-related pattern of drug use, and that the
progressive-step therory of drug use was not confirmed. A number of
behavioral and attitudinal variables correlated with a tendency toward a
high level of drug use. The implications of these findings include the need
for targeted drug education and prevention programs and a differentiated
approach to the study of drug use among adolescents.
Abstract Teaser