From One-Off Triers to Regular Users: Measuring the Regularity of Drug Taking in a Cohort of English Adolescents (1996-1999)

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Abstract
The Northern Regions Longitudinal Study (England) has been following two cohorts of adolescents using annual surveys to monitor alcohol, tobacco and drug use. This paper reports on the younger cohort ( N = 1,097) followed from when they were thirteen (1996) through to seventeen. In particular it shows how regularity of drug use can be measured accurately, compared with the widely utilised past month proxy measure and how longitudinal analyses offer new perspectives on drugs pathways. A profile of the study's attrition group shows them to be particularly drug involved. The increases in smoking and drinking across adolescence found were broadly in line with the national picture. Rates of drug involvement were particularly high however with very early onset (25.6% ever tried a drug at thirteen). By seventeen half the sample (51.2%) had some drug experience. Within this sub-sample 30.8% were triers not intending to take another drug. Drug users divided into light (43.1%), moderate (12.8%) and regular (13.3%) based on past year frequency and stated future intentions. Unemployed school leavers were the most drug involved, those still in full time education the least. Cannabis was the most used drug and for many the only illicit drug taken regularly.