AIMS: Drug progression models have been a cornerstone of scientific and public policy discussions for decades. These models have been criticized for their lack of causal mechanisms leading to @entity734 . Future research should focus on identification of pathways and covariates. This study re-examines @entity286 use onset and progression to @entity734 in a multi-ethnic sample followed longitudinally from early to late adolescence (1990 to 1998-2000). METHODS: Data were collected in schools (n = 1208) during early adolescence (mean age 11.07), and subsequently face-to-face interviews were conducted at late adolescence (mean age 20.01). FINDINGS: Results indicated ethnic differences in rates and progression of @entity286 use, with African Americans and foreign-born Latinos having larger proportions of abstainers and lower rates of persistent use. Most early adolescent smokers progressed to regular use. The odds of progression to @entity835 or @entity734 by later adolescence were highest (O.R. = 4.9) among persistent smokers, but not significant for foreign-born Latinos. The odds of progression to @entity734 or @entity734 were also highest (O.R. = 6.4) for persistent smokers, but not significant for African Americans. CONCLUSIONS: Implications for research on pathways and mechanisms of progression are discussed. Prevention programs may interrupt drug progression if they delay onset of @entity286 use until mid-adolescence. Preventing targeted marketing efforts by the @entity286 industry, regulating and enforcing @entity286 control laws and pricing cigarettes at cost levels that adolescents find prohibitive are effective supplements to traditional behavior change interventions.

Revisiting drug progression: long-range effects of early XXXX use.

@entity835 :: ('MESH:D002189', 'Disease') :: ['marijuana abuse'] @entity286 :: ('4097', 'Species') :: ['tobacco'] @entity734 :: ('MESH:D019966', 'Disease') :: ['drug dependence', 'dependence', 'drug abuse']
@entity286 :: (4097,Species) :: ['tobacco']
