NCJ Number
191103
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 40 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 1168-1174
Date Published
October 2001
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This study examined the sequences of substance use among American Indian adolescents.
Abstract
The objective was to determine whether the predominant pattern of use of different substance classes among a large sample of American Indian adolescents was consistent with the Stage Theory. According to Stage Theory, substance users’ first use of different classes of substances follows this specific sequence: (1) “legal” substances such as tobacco and alcohol, (2) marijuana, (3) other illicit drugs, (4) cocaine, and (5) crack. Stage Theory states that, while use of a specific class of substances indicated in this sequence is necessary for advancement to the next class of substances, not all users continue along this progression. Data came from surveys completed by 1,562 American Indian high school students in 1993. Comparisons of age of first use for alcohol, marijuana, inhalants, cocaine, and other illicit drugs were examined, as were prevalence rates of specific sequences of substance use. Results showed that 35 percent of the American Indian youths that had used both alcohol and marijuana reported using alcohol first. Seventy-five percent of youths that had used three or more substances reported a sequence of first use that was inconsistent with Stage Theory. A general pattern of using alcohol, marijuana, and/or inhalants prior to the use of cocaine and other illicit drugs was observed. Sequences of first use varied by gender, age of first substance use, community, and number of classes of substances used. To enhance the validity of Stage Theory for American Indian adolescents, it was recommended that its revision include alcohol, marijuana, and inhalants as initiating substances. 3 tables, 30 references