SELF-GENERATED DRUG OUTCOMES IN HIGH-RISK ADOLESCENTS

The perceived outcomes of drug use were studied in a sample of high-ri sk adolescents. Participants' self-generated responses provided the ac tual words they used to describe drug outcomes as well as associative frequency norms valuable for future research. The authors also compare d outcomes in terms of class of outcome (positive vs. negative) and cl ass of drug (alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, cocaine, speed, and LSD). Although the studied drugs have divergent pharmacological effects, pa rticipants self-generated some of the same outcomes (e.g., relaxation) across some of the drugs. In addition, outcomes self-generated as pos itive outcomes were very rarely also self-generated as negative outcom es. Finally, regressions revealed that self-generated responses were n ot predicted by ethnicity, gender, or previous drug use. Many drug use outcomes thus appeared to be available in memory regardless of previo us drug use or other characteristics.