This study examines the impact of early adolescent drug use on subsequent dropping out of high school in a sample of 4,390 adolescents from California and Oregon. Participants were initially surveyed in 7th grade in 1985 and again in 1990 when they should have completed 12th grade. Logistic regression analyses show that frequency of cigarette use during 7th grade predicts dropping out of high school, controlling for demographics, family structure, academic orientation, early deviance, and school environment. Separate analyses by race/ethnicity replicate this finding for Asians, Blacks, and whites, but not for Latinos. For Latinos, early marijuana use predicts dropping out. The results suggest that preventing or reducing the incidence of early smoking and marijuana use may help reduce the probability of dropping out of high school.

Examined the utilization rates, treatment dropout rates, and length of treatment for minority adolescents in the mental health care system. Data from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health from 1983 to 1988 were used. Ss were 853 African Americans, 704 Asian Americans, 964 Hispanics, and 670 whites. Analyses showed that Asian Americans and Hispanics are underrepresented in existing public mental health facilities while African Americans are overrepresented. For dropout rates, no ethnic differences are found between minority groups and whites; but, for length of treatment, Asian Americans tend to stay longer in treatment while African Americans tend to stay in treatment for a shorter period of time than whites. African Americans also have more outpatient episodes than whites. Implications of the results are discussed, and recommendations for future research are suggested.

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This study examines the cross-lagged relationships among problem drug use, delinquent behavior, and emotional distress in a sample of 3,458 adolescents from California and Oregon. The analyses used data collected from participants in grades 10 and 12 (or equivalent). Structural equation modeling with latent variables showed strong cross-sectional correlations among these problems, strong stability effects for all three problems, and only one cross-lagged effect (greater frequency of delinquent behavior at grade 10 led to greater problem drug use at grade 12). Multisample analyses by ethnicity (Asian, Black, Latino, and White) showed that the cross-lagged effect was not statistically different in these four groups. The results suggest that curbing delinquent behavior might contribute to the prevention of problem drug use.