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Sequential Patterns of Multiple-Drug Use Among High School Students

Leroy C. Gould

Archives of General Psychiatry February 1, 1977 DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.1977.01770140106012 (opens in new tab)

Study at a glance

AI-extracted from the abstract
Characteristics Cross-sectional survey Peer reviewed
Sample size 1,094
Population High school students in greater New Haven, Connecticut, 1972-1973 academic year
Topics Cannabis Mescaline
Keywords Heroin Drug Hashish Substance abuse Clinical psychology
Citations 34
Key findings Scalogram analysis reveals a progressive relationship for nine drugs (alcohol, marijuana, hashish, barbiturates, amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, cocaine, and heroin), but cigarettes and glue do not play a part in this pattern.

Abstract

Only recently have multiple-drug use studies involving more than heroin and marijuana begun to be reported in the literature. Four of these studies have found evidence that multiple-drug use is a progressive phenomenon, although the particular pattern of multiple-drug use reported in different populations varies somewhat. This study examines the patterns of multiple-drug use reported by a random sample of 1,094 high school students living in greater New Haven, Conn in the 1972-1973 academic school year. Scalogram analysis reveals a progressive relationship for nine drugs: alcohol, marijuana, hashish, barbiturates, amphetamines, LSD, mescaline, cocaine, and heroin. Cigarettes and glue were not found to play a part in this pattern. The temporal order in which respondents reported that they had begun using each drug supports the results of scalogram analysis only in part.

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