title: Testing the length of time theory of recall decay: examining substance use report stability with 10 years of national longitudinal survey of youth data.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This article examines whether the proportion of recanters increases (or decreases) as a function of time o test length of time theory.
  
  
  METHODS
  2,221 US respondents in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth child data. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among recanters, 50% of cigarette and alcohol users recanted use by 4 years, and 50% of marijuana users recanted by 3 years. Predictors of recanting was being Black or Hispanic and younger age. The theory was not supported. Further research is needed to identify potential reasons why adolescents recant their use is such a short time span. The study's limitations are noted.
authors.affiliation: Center for Alcohol and Drug Studies, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92120, USA. ashillin@mail.sdsu.edu
authors.forename: Audrey M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Shillington
authors.forename: Mark B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Reed
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Clapp
authors.forename: Susan I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Woodruff
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D013997:Time Factors