Indicators of adolescent drug users in a clinical population

Research indicates that drug use by adolescents may be influenced by a number of variables. Among the variables that have been associated with drug use are gender, ethnicity, various forms of maltreatment, and parental use of drugs and alcohol. A logistic regression analysis performed on a sample of 1867 adolescents indicated that a combination of physical abuse, sexual abuse, history of familial drug use, family violence, ethnicity, and a history of familial violence were significant in differentiating substance abusers from non-abusers. A Principle Components Analysis indicated that the significant variables grouped among three dimensions: violence, history of parental drug use, and ethnicity. Implications for a multidimensional approach to intervention are discussed. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: <getinfo@haworthpressine.com> Website: <http://www.HaworthPress.com> (C) 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.].