Drug use and treatment initiation patterns: Differences by birth-cohorts

Data from Drug Abuse Treatment Outcome Studies (DATOS) were used to examine differences in correlates of early stages of drug use patterns by birth-cohorts and gender. Males showed a steady increase in family problems in each birth cohort, compared to females who showed a higher mean number of family problems in each birth cohort. The findings suggest different correlates of the early stages of drug-use pattern namely; experimentation with drugs before the onset of weekly drug use and early age of escalated or weekly drug use. Experimentation was associated with delayed onset of escalated drug use. "Experimenters" were associated with illegal activities and mental health problems, whereas "early escalators" were associated with childhood and school problems. The positive association of onset of illegal activities and psychological symptoms before the onset of weekly drug use with experimentation and delayed onset of escalated drug use was consistent across gender and birth-cohorts. Similarly, the association of family and school problems with early age of onset of escalated drug use was also consistent across gender and birth cohorts. Treatment providers can benefit from a better understanding of clients' pathways and progression of addiction careers in order to assess their treatment needs.