Patterns of reasons for drug use among detained and adjudicated juveniles

Self-reported reasons for drug use were examined among a sample of detained and adjudicated juveniles at a state residential facility. By means of a series of factor analyses, three common motives or reasons for using a variety of drugs were identified: (1) an expanded awareness-insight motive, (2) a drug effect motive, and (3) an increased activity motive. No relationship was found between type of offense and drug use. The overall findings suggest that drug use may be a means of coping with stress as well as a means of altering consciousness.