This study examined the impact of adolescent substance use on adult substance use and criminal behavior. Longitudinal data from 657 participants were assessed over 12 years (1969-1981). Latent variable models were used to determine what effect, if any, adolescent drug use had on later deviance. In addition, constructs relevant to traditional theories of social control, such as the extent of socialization and obedience to rules, were also included as predictors. The results showed that a general drug use factor in adolescence significantly predicted adult illicit substance use, theft, and interpersonal aggression. Drug-related accidents (automobile and other) were also predicted from adolescent drug use. These findings are consistent with several theories suggesting that different forms of deviance may influence each other over time.

This study examined the stability of adolescent drug use into young adulthood and explored the possible influence of personality on adolescent and adult drug use. Participants in this longitudinal study (N = 640) completed questionnaires which assessed multiple indicators for latent constructs of tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and hard drugs, and also for the personality constructs of Socialization. In addition, the effects of obedience and extraversion were examined. Results showed that a general drug use factor in adolescence significantly predicted young adult drug use. A particular effect of adolescent obedience on adult drug use was noted. Within adolescence, obedience, extraversion, and the construct of Socialization were significant predictors of drug use. Early onset of smoking predicted adolescent drug use. The implications of these findings for early drug use education and intervention are discussed. Additional analysis explored the possibility of treating obedience as another indicator of Socialization. This model could not provide as good a fit as the original model. The measure of obedience acted as a better predictor of drug use than an overall factor of Socialization. Gender differences are discussed.

This study examined the impact of adolescent substance use on young adult health. Longitudinal data from 825 participants were assessed when the participants were junior high school and high school students (1969-1973) and again in 1981. Latent variable models were used to determine what effect adolescent drug use had on later health. General substance use, which included tobacco, alcohol, stimulants, sedatives, and other hard drugs, had a small effect on adult health problems associated with substance use, and also predicted accidents related to substance use. In addition, the specific use of tobacco and cannabis in adolescence predicted later respiratory problems, while cigarette smoking during adolescence also predicted decreased physical hardiness. Lower adolescent socialization predicted post high school accidents (automobile and other) serious enough to require medical attention, and predicted increased psychosomatic and seizure symptoms, as well as general psychiatric distress. Implications of these results for the successful prevention or intervention of drug use are discussed. In addition to these results, gender differences are also examined.

Longitudinal data (N=785) collected during Ss high school years(1971-1973) and in 1981 were used to assess the influence of adolescent drug use on adult job behaviors, job satisfaction, and adverse terminations while accounting for concurrent adult drug use, years of drug use, and adolescent achievement motivation. Relationships were minimal between adolescent drug use and adult work-related indicators in confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) and predictive path models. Although significantly related in the CFAs, higher adolescent achievement motivation did not predict less adult drug use when adolescent drug use was included as a control. Less achievement motivation in adolescence significantly predicted more negative job behaviors and less job satisfaction, but not terminations. Correlations were significant between more adolescent drug use and less adolescent achievement motivation and between adult job problems and adult drug use.