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Abstract
Using a unique data base of 654 young adults monitored since early adolescence, this study assesses the effects of adolescent drug use on young adult family formation and stability, deviant behavior, sexual behavior and involvement, educational pursuits, livelihood pursuits, mental health, and social integration. It also explores the emotional impact on young-adult development of various drugs. The effects observed manifested themselves over a 4-year span from late adolescence to young adulthood. Since the initial drug-use measures also included information from early adolescence, the reported effects are bounded by a maximum of eight years, from early adolescence to young adulthood. The empirical data indicate that teenage drug use is apparently associated with early involvement in marriage and having children, attended by divorce and unhappiness in marriage. General drug use apparently increased involvement with drug crimes, reduced involvement with violent crimes, and increased stealing. Cocaine had the specific effect of increasing confrontational acts as a young adult. Alcohol use, however, decreased confrontational acts and property crime involvement. There were few effects in which drug use changes aspects of sexual behavior and satisfaction beyond those experienced as a teenager. Although teenage drug use did not reduce educational aspirations beyond the lowered levels already evident in adolescence, it did reduce college involvement. Use of hard drugs significantly lowered the changes of graduating from high school. The study draws implications for theory, prevention, treatment, and research methodology. Appended description of measures and 378 references
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