ETIOLOGY OF SUBSTANCE USE IN AUSTRALIA /USA

描述（改编自申请人摘要）：本研究将 调查和比较物质使用的流行病学和病因学， 在华盛顿州和澳大利亚的维多利亚州的虐待。数据将 从全州五、七、九年级的概率样本中收集 学生每个州每个年级的1000名学生将组成一个 纵向面板应每年进行三次调查。研究 将利用最近开发的能够具有成本效益的仪器， 全面衡量风险和保护因素， 使用，和其他问题行为这一工具是适合广泛的年龄 一系列青年（10-20岁）提供关于儿童的 这些预测因子在不同发育阶段的相对强度。的 对澳大利亚和美国的这些工艺进行比较， 研究这些预测因子的跨国有效性。的 国际比较还将调查文化差异是否 这两个国家之间的预测物质使用和滥用，也许会导致 发现了滥用药物的新危险因素。这项研究有 以下目的：检查调查措施的跨国有效性， 全面的风险和保护因素以及药物使用和其他 问题行为;比较风险和保护因素的水平， 物质使用流行率（物质开始使用、使用频率和 使用）和相关的问题行为在这两个国家;检查 在启动、进展和 两种状态下吸毒行为的维持情况; 两国文化差异对风险水平的影响， 保护和模式的启动，进展，和维护 物质使用;具体而言，检查差异的程度和影响， 在预防项目中减少伤害与禁欲的规范性信息 和学校政策;测试社会发展的相对适合性 模型（Catalano和Hawkins，1996年）在两个州。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the Applicant's Abstract): This study will investigate and compare the epidemiology and etiology of substance use and abuse in Washington State and the State of Victoria in Australia. Data will be collected from statewide probability samples of 5th, 7th, and 9th grade students. The 1000 students at each grade level in each state will constitute a longitudinal panel to be surveyed three times at annual intervals. The study will utilize a recently developed instrument capable of cost-efficient measurement of a comprehensive range of risk and protective factors, substance use, and other problem behaviors This instrument is appropriate for a broad age range of youth (age 10-20) providing unique information on the level and comparative strength of these predictors at different developmental stages. The comparison of these processes in Australia and the U.S. will allow for the investigation of the cross national validity of these predictors. The international comparison will also investigate whether cultural differences between the two countries predict substance use and abuse, perhaps leading to the discovery of new risk factors for substance abuse. This study has the following aims: To examine the cross-national validity of survey measures of a comprehensive range of risk and protective factors and substance use and other problem behaviors; To compare the levels of risk and protective factors and prevalence of substance use (substance initiation, frequency of use and heavy use) and related problem behaviors in the two states; To examine the similarities and differences in the pathways to initiation, progression and maintenance of drug using behavior in the two states; To examine the extent and effect of cultural differences between the two states on levels of risk and protection and patterns of initiation, progression, and maintenance of substance use; Specifically, to examine the extent and effect of differences in normative messages of harm reduction versus abstinence in prevention programs and school policies; To test the comparative fit of the Social Development Model (Catalano and Hawkins, 1996) in two states.