In recent years the pace has been accelerating by which changes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) systems are made. Revisions occur before extensive empirical knowledge can be drawn upon to guide these changes. For substance use disorders, the criteria have undergone changes from DSM-III to DSM-III-R, and from…

Many questions about the associations between risk factors and drug use remain unanswered. Data originally obtained from seventh graders participating in a school-based prevention program were examined in terms of a theoretical model. A series of multiple regression analyses were then conducted to select those risk factors which contributed unique…

Changing alcohol and drug use patterns among women and ethnic minorities, such as the over-representation of Hispanics in alcohol-related deaths, drunk driving arrests, and treatment facilities, emphasize the importance of understanding substance use patterns in these populations. This study attempted to identify a single cause of substance abuse…

This study was conducted to determine whether gender differences exist on a number of psychosocial variables that are correlated with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. Subjects were 1,465 students from 22 schools in three regions of New York State who were in the seventh grade during the 1985-1986 school year. Students completed…

The inverse relation between academic motivation and substance use has been well established, but the direction of the influence remains to be specified; two possible influences are the mediating and moderating effects of family relationships and self-esteem. In this study, investigators used General Estimating Equation (GEE) models based on data…

This paper discusses a study that examines the relationship between participation in religious youth groups, smoking behavior and subsequent use of cocaine, marijuana, and alcohol. The document briefly surveys earlier research on smoking and drug abuse. The study surveyed students, schools, parents, teachers, and student academic achievement data.…