Stages of progression in drug involvement from adolescence to adulthood: further evidence for the gateway theory.
Sequential stages of involvement in alcohol and/or cigarettes, marijuana, other illicit drugs and medically prescribed psychoactive drugs from adolescence to adulthood are investigated in a longitudinal cohort that has been followed from ages 15 to 35. Alternative models of progression are tested for their goodness of fit. Four stages are identified: that of legal drugs, alcohol or cigarettes; marijuana; illicit drugs other than marijuana; and medically prescribed drugs. Whereas progression to illicit drugs among men is dependent upon prior use of alcohol, among women either cigarettes or alcohol is a sufficient condition for progression to marijuana. Age of onset and frequency of use at a lower stage of drug use are strong predictors of further progression.
Kandel
D B
DB
Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, N.Y. 10032.
Yamaguchi
K
K
Chen
K
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000145:classification; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
D013287:Illicit Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations