Patterns and Transitions in Substance Use Among Young Swiss Men: A Latent Transition Analysis Approach. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Baggio, Stéphanie; Studer, Joseph; Deline, Stéphane; N'Goran, Alexandra; Dupuis, Marc; Henchoz, Yves; Mohler-Kuo, Meichun; Daeppen, Jean-Bernard; Gmel, Gerhard
• Is Part Of: Journal of drug issues. Volume 44:Number 4(2014)
• Page Start: 381
• Page End: 393
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: latent transition analysis -- patterns of drug use -- substance use -- trajectories; Drug abuse -- Periodicals; Drug and Narcotic Control -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; Toxicomanie -- Périodiques; 362.29305
• DOI: 10.1177/0022042614526996
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-0426

Abstract

This study investigates the potential stages of drug use. Data from the longitudinal Cohort Study on Substance Use Risk Factors were used ( N = 5, 116). Drug use (alcohol, tobacco, and 16 illicit drugs) over the previous 12 months was assessed at two time points. Patterns and trajectories of drug use were studied using latent transition analysis (LTA). This study's substantive contributions are twofold. First, the pattern of drug use displayed the well-known sequence of drug involvement (licit drugs to cannabis to other illicit drugs), but with an added distinction between two kinds of illicit drugs ("middle-stage" drugs: uppers, hallucinogens, inhaled drugs; and "final-stage" drugs: heroin, ketamine, GHB/GBL, research chemicals, crystal meth, and spice). Second, subgroup membership was stable over time, as the most likely transition was remaining in the same latent class.