THE NATURAL-HISTORY OF DRUG-USE FROM ADOLESCENCE TO THE MID-THIRTIES IN A GENERAL-POPULATION SAMPLE

Objectives, This study sought to describe patterns of initiation, pers istence, and Cessation in drug use in individuals from their late 20s to their mid-30s, within a broad perspective that spans 19 years from adolescence:to adulthood. Methods. A fourth wave of personal interview s was conducted at ages 34-35 with a cohort of men and women (n = 1160 ) representative of adolescents formerly enrolled in New York State pu blic secondary high schools. A school survey was administered at ages 15-16, and personal interviews with participants and school absentees were conducted at: ages 24-25 and 28-29. Retrospective continuous hist ories of 12 drug classes were obtained at each follow-up. Results. The re was no initiation into alcohol and cigarettes and hardly any initia tion into illicit drugs after age 29, the age at which most use ceased . The largest proportion of new users;was observed for prescribed psyc hoactives. Periods of highest use since adolescence based on relative and absolute criteria were delineated. Among daily users, the proporti ons of heavy users declined for alcohol and marijuana but not for ciga rettes. Conclusions. Cigarettes are the most persistent of any drug us ed. Drug-focused interventions must target adolescents and young adult s.