THE INFLUENCE OF MARRIAGE, EMPLOYMENT, AND EDUCATION ON DESISTANCE FROM MARIJUANA: EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF LIFE-COURSE TRANSITIONS IN RURAL AND URBAN SETTINGS

This paper attempts to rectify a void in the existing life-course and illegal drug use literature by examining desistance from marijuana in rural and non-rural vicinities. Until recently, the scholarship on crime has focused on the factors associated with recidivism, thereby overlooking an equally important topic—desistance, that is, the practice of not continuing to participate in illegal behavior. In order to address this neglected issue, and explore the possible explanations for the age-crime curve, Sampson and Laub (1993) set forth an integrated theory of informal social control. The thrust of this theoretical framework centered on adulthood bonds to conventional society, such as marriage and employment. They argued that adults who acquire and are highly-committed to such institutions, increase their odds of desisting from crime. However, Sampson and Laub neglect to take into account possible rural-urban differences in the desistance process. The emphasis on urban populations is also a characteristic of most studies examining drug use. This research examines desistance in drug use by rural and urban population, by using a life-course perspective. Three life course transitions were employed in this study: education, employment, and marriage. Also included in the analysis were measures of time spent with peers and contact with deviant friends. By using these measures, this study was able to test Sampson and Laub's theory. The sample for this study comes from waves 6 and 7 of the National Youth Survey. The multivariate models predicting desistance from marijuana lend little support for differences between rural versus non-rural locations. Although enrollment in college facilitates the desistance process, employment and marriage do not play a significant role in the desistance process. This paper concludes with some implications of these findings. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to extend my utmost gratitude to my committee chair, Dr. John Paul Wright, whose intuitive comments and suggestions greatly benefited my thesis. Not only has Dr. John Paul Wright offered guidance throughout this experience, but has also offered his advice in anyway possible. His assistance in this project was a major contributing factor to the final output. I would also like to express my deepest and sincere thanks and appreciation to Dr. Michael O. Maume. Without his guidance and support, this thesis would never have been started nor completed. His patience, understanding, and insightful views have greatly contributed to the final draft of my thesis. Our thought-provoking conversations and emails, coupled with his caring nature, have inspired me to follow in his footsteps. In addition, I would like to thank Dr. John Wooldredge for being on my committee, and providing me with valuable feedback. Finally, I would like to thank Dr. Kevin Apple for helping me with statistical questions that arose. On a more personal note, I would like to thank my fiancee, Shonna, who encouraged and reassured me during the progression of my thesis. Her constant presence and understanding during this process made this experience all the more enjoyable. Her loving and enduring support will never be forgotten. Last, but not least, I would like to thank my family—my Mom, Dad, and sister. Without their emotional and financial support, my thesis would never have been completed.