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Psychosocial differences between occasional and regular adolescent users of Marijuana and Heroin

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Abstract

Data on marijuana and heroin use were obtained from 969 adolescents in Hong Kong, part of them being offenders. Very high drug use prevalence rates were found, which is due to the unique population studied. All but two of the heroin users were incarcerated youth. Drug use frequencies were highly associated with psychosocial variables such as sensation seeking, peer drug use, family drug use, susceptibility to peer pressure, perceived control to gain access to drugs, intention to try other substances, and perceived adverse consequences of drug use. Interactions were found indicating, for example, that regularly marijuana using girls and occasionally heroin using girls were characterized by higher levels of sensation seeking and susceptibility to peer pressure than their male counterparts. Polysubstance use was generally related to high levels of psychosocial vulnerability factors. The exclusive use of marijuana was associated with high susceptibility to peer pressure and with perceived control to gain access to drugs. The findings reflect a complex interplay of psychosocial variables with substance use in adolescents that, however, cannot be generalized beyond this particular sample in Hong Kong.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

    Catherine S. K. Tang (Associate Professor)

  2. Correctional Services Department, Hong Kong Government, Hong Kong

    Connie S. Y. Wong (Clinical Psychologist)

  3. Psychology at Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Ralf Schwarzer (Professor)

Authors
  1. Catherine S. K. Tang
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  2. Connie S. Y. Wong
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  3. Ralf Schwarzer
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Additional information

Received Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of North Texas. Research interests include drug-taking behaviors, health psychology and women studies. To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Received M. Phil in Clinical Psychology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Research interests include drug-taking behaviors and adolescent problems.

Research interests include stress and anxiety.

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Tang, C.S.K., Wong, C.S.Y. & Schwarzer, R. Psychosocial differences between occasional and regular adolescent users of Marijuana and Heroin. J Youth Adolescence 25, 219–239 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537345

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01537345

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