Cocaine use among young adults.

The use of cocaine has become quite prevalent among many segments of society, with increasing public concern and personal difficulties resulting from it. This study examines a large group of young adults to determine how cocaine users differ from nonusers. Fully one-third of the sample had used cocaine in the past six months, with about 5% reporting weekly or more use. Numerous important differences were found between users and nonusers in regard to sociodemographic characteristics, use of other licit and illicit drugs, deviant attitudes and behavior, social context of use, physical health, mental health, and life satisfaction. Differences increased with greater involvement with the drug, to the point where cocaine abusers were strikingly different than nonusers. The largest distinctions were noted in regard to cocaine users having more difficulty in the successful acquisition of adult role responsibilities, greater use of other drugs, engaging in more deviant behaviors, and immersion in a social context conducive to use. Smaller but noteworthy differences revealed that cocaine users had poor physical and emotional health statuses and lowered life satisfaction, compared to nonusers. Finally, several personality traits, and in particular a lack of law abidance, predicted a significant increase in cocaine use from adolescence to young adulthood.