The social context of substance abuse: a developmental perspective.

Contemporary American society struggles to find solutions to multiple problem behaviors involving crime, delinquency, violence, and substance abuse (Elliott et al. 1989; Hawkins et al. 1992; Reiss et al. 1993; Sampson and Laub 1993). Research evidence indicates that these phenomena are interrelated and that individuals demonstrating one behavioral disorder, such as substance abuse, are at increased risk for experiencing other adjustment difficulties (Jessor et al. 1991). Indeed, many researchers suggest that the initial causal mechanisms for a broad range of the most serious and chronic problems increases the probability of later crime, delinquency, and substance abuse (Elliott et al. 1989; Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990; Moffitt 1993; Sampson and Laub 1993). Moreover, individ-ual pathways from early childhood behavioral problems to multifaceted syndromes of maladjustment take shape within a set of closely connected social contexts involving family, peers, school, and other community institutions.