The Poly-Drug User: Examining Associations between Drugs Used by Adolescents

Based on data from the 2014 Communities that Care Youth Survey, the authors examine the associations between drug use frequencies among 11 drugs. This research represents a step in determining what leads to the use of dangerous drugs like heroin, other opioids, and other not so dangerous substances. Findings indicate the highest association is between marijuana and alcohol use. Most drugs show at least a low to medium association with all other drugs. Findings indicate the difficulty in making gateway assumptions and that poly-drug use determined by peer associations is a better explanation.