Although recent research suggests that drug misuse involves multiple etiologies, more information is needed to aid in the development of individualized treatment regimens. Individuals with high sensation-seeking (SS) needs do not appear to respond well to traditional counseling approaches. Adolescents (N=584) aged 15 or 18 at time 1 (T1) and 18 or 21 at time 2 (T2) completed self-report questionnaires, behavioral tasks, and physiological measures. The results revealed that no reliable age effects on T1 levels of disinhibition needs were obtained. But drug use increased with age both in terms of initial age differences and age changes in the longitudinal study. Subjects reporting low SS needs initially maintained low SS needs and showed the lowest levels of use in frequency and quantity. High SS need individuals reported high levels of use at T1 and T2. The probability of getting drunk or high increased for individuals with high SS needs at either age and either time. The stability of needs over time and the level of needs at T1 accounted for the intensity of several drug taking behaviors over time. While the results demonstrated that the desire for stimulating experiences was a motivational determinant during the normal development of drug taking behaviors, the knowledge of SS needs at one point does not provide sufficient information to predict subsequent changes in SS needs or drug taking behaviors. (Data tables are included.) (TW)