Trends in substance use among US military personnel: The impact of changing demographic composition

This paper examines the impact of the military population's changing demogr aphic composition on observed changes in substance use by military personne l. Cross-sectional data are drawn from the six Department of Defense Worldw ide Surveys of Substance Abuse and Health Behaviors Among Military Personne l conducted in 1980, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1992, and 1995. Using the method of direct standardization to adjust for changes in demographic composition, tr ends in substance use are examined. Changes in heavy alcohol use were more affected by demographic changes in the military population than were change s in illicit drug use or cigarette use. Findings indicate that changes in d emographic composition may need to be controlled when assessing trends from cross-sectional surveys. [Translations are provided in the International A bstracts Section of this issue.]