An Examination of Patterns of Drug Use in Six Suburban Groups

An investigation into the patterns of drug use of drug users was conducted across six specific groups in a northeastern suburb and at a state university. Information was obtained concerning past and present frequency of use, location of use and procurement, and availability and source of procurement. Relative similarities and differences in patterns of drug use as understood through the resulting group and drug matrix is discussed. Summarizing the responses to the questions on drug use, the following seem to be true. There is reported greater use in the past of all drugs than in the present. Tobacco and alcohol are the most frequently used drugs. Across groups, marijuana is the third most used drug with heroin, cocaine, and hallucinogens being the least used. Adults are the most frequent users of tobacco and alcohol, while college students are the most frequent users of marijuana. Junior high students report the least frequent use of all drugs (Table 6). Alcohol and tobacco are most typically obtained by most respondents at a commercial location from a commercial dealer. These two drugs are also the most easy to obtain. Junior and senior high students do tend to obtain these drugs at home from their parents and friends. These drugs are also most frequently used at home by all groups with the exception of junior and senior high students who mentioned using both drugs in noncommercial locations as well as at home. Marijuana is the next most available drug across groups and is reported as being obtained by students most typically from friends or acquaintances, either at the university or at a local school. University students most frequently indicated use in a friend's room. Barbiturates and amphetamines were less available than marijuana, but more available than heroin, cocaine, and hallucinogens to students. These two drugs are typically obtained from friends and acquaintances, either at the university (junior high), or at a commercial location (senior high), or at a local school (junior and senior). Typical places of use are the home or dorm room (school and college students), commercial locations (junior high), local school (junior and senior high), and friend's home or dorm room (senior high or college student). Least available and used are heroin, cocaine, and hallucinogens. The trends of use and purchase suggest that they are obtained at the same general types of places that barbiturates and amphetamines are obtained, with some more dependence on the u