Exploring the Relationship Between Morality, Victimization Experiences, and Adolescent Polydrug Use Through a Fixed Effects Model

• In Event: Drug Use and Drug Markets

Abstract

1) The Purpose: The prevalence of polydrug use among juveniles has been widely discussed in several studies, despite the lack of official data systematically collecting such information. Research consistently highlights that polydrug use can lead to multiple short- and long-term detrimental outcomes, notably including the risk of overdose death. Yet, prior studies examining polydrug use state that substance abuse research has primarily focused on individual substances and treated substance abuse behavior as a single episode. Hence, exploring the outcomes associated with the use of multiple types of drugs may offer fresh insights into polydrug use.
2) Study Design: This paper will conduct secondary data analysis using open longitudinal data to investigate whether within-individual changes in several key risk factors, particularly morality and victimization experiences, are associated with adolescent polydrug use. This analysis will be conducted using a fixed effects model.
3) Implication: Given the perception of drug abuse as a moral failing behavior, individuals who engage in polydrug use are often assumed to have lower moral standards. However, many policies rooted in the moral paradigm may no longer be suitable for addressing the current normalization of drug use among youth, requiring the development of new policies.

Author

• Yu-Heng Chen, Temple University