Substance Use

Teens Who Work Are More Likely to Smoke — Jan 15, 2008

An analysis of substance use among teens in the 10th grade found a strong association between working for pay and smoking. Even after adjusting for other factors that influence teen smoking behavior, the study found a clear link between the amount of time teenagers worked and their current use of tobacco.

• Research Brief
• Children and Families Research Area

New Perspectives on Marijuana and Youth: Abstainers Are Not Maladjusted, but Lone Users Face Difficulties — Aug 16, 2007

This research brief describes evidence RAND researchers use to challenge findings from 1990 report on marijuana use and emotional and social adjustment in teens.

• Research Brief

Using Outcomes to Assess Teen Substance-Use Treatment Programs -- How Feasible? — Jul 11, 2007

This study explored using outcome data to assess adolescent substance abuse treatment program performance. However, this approach may be problematic. A more promising approach may be to identify quality-of-care indicators for assessing performance.

• Research Brief
• Related Report

Project ALERT Plus May Leverage the Effect of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign — Jan 19, 2006

This fact sheet reports lowered use of marijuana among ninth graders exposed to anti-drug messages from the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign along with Project ALERT Plus, a drug prevention curriculum for middle school students.

• Research Brief

Forging the Link Between Alcohol Advertising and Underage Drinking — Jan 19, 2006

This research brief shows that alcohol advertising appears to promote adolescent drinking and suggests that school drug prevention programs can blunt the impact of alcohol ads on youth.

• Research Brief
• Abstract
• Abstract

Stopping Violence Before It Starts: Identifying Early Predictors of Adolescent Violence — Nov 30, 2005

This research brief describes work documented in “Early Predictors of Adolescent Violence,” American Journal of Public Health.

• Research Brief
• Abstract
• Children and Families Research Area

Evaluating Substance Abuse Treatment Programs for Adolescent Probationers — Dec 31, 2003

In this study, RAND researchers found that one substance abuse treatment program helped young probationers reduce substance abuse and improve their psychological functioning.

• Research Brief

Classroom Drug Prevention Works — Dec 31, 2003

Alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs are in the nation's schools, sidetracking kids from getting a good education and from building a solid foundation for a productive, healthy life.

• Research Brief
• Reprint

What Are the True Benefits of School-Based Drug Prevention Programs? — Dec 31, 2001

This research brief describes work documented in School-Based Drug Prevention: What Kind of Drug Use Does It Prevent? (MR-1459-RWJ).

• Research Brief
• Related Report

Using Marijauna May Not Raise the Risk Of Using Harder Drugs — Dec 31, 2001

A recent analysis by RAND's Drug Policy Research Center (DPRC) suggests that data typically used to support a marijuana gateway effect can be explained as well by a different theory.

• Research Brief

Does Early Smoking Signal Later Problems? — Dec 31, 2001

Whereas earlier studies focused on older adolescents, we have examined the trajectory of smoking from the middle school years to the end of high school and have assessed the association between early smoking and other concurrent high-risk behaviors as well as later behaviors.

• Research Brief
• Reprint
• Reprint
• Children and Families Research Area

Stopping Violence Before It Starts: Identifying Early Predictors of Adolescent Violence — Dec 31, 2000

• Research Brief

Helping Adolescents Resist Drugs — Dec 31, 1999

Project ALERT is based on the theory that adolescents turn to drugs because of perceived social norms, because media images and the influence of peers make drug use appear attractive, and because, being kids, they want to appear mature and independent.

• Research Brief
• Reprint
• Reprint
• Related Report
• Related Report
• Related Report
• Related Report
• Reprint
• Related Report
• Related Report

Helping Adolescents Resist Drugs: Project ALERT — Dec 31, 1997

This document has been superseded.

• Research Brief

Teenage Alcohol Misuse: A Big Problem and a Different Solution — Dec 31, 1997

Research confirms the pervasive nature of teenage drinking and indicates that alcohol misuse may be more of a problem than previously imagined. A second study shows teen drinking is more strongly associated with sociability than with antisocial behavior.

• Research Brief
• Reprint
• Reprint

Teenage Alcohol Misuse: A Big Problem and a Different Solution — Dec 31, 1996

• Research Brief

Can the Military Help Prevent Drug Use Among Youth? — Dec 31, 1994

Illegal drug use is a major problem confronting the United States today, and the Congress directed the Department of Defense (DoD) to establish pilot outreach programs designed to reduce drug use among youth.

• Research Brief
• Related Report