This report investigates the prevalence and trends of substance use among American high school students, college students, and young adults during the period of 1975 to 1987. The study utilizes data from the Monitoring the Future project, a long-term research initiative conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. It provides a quantitative framework to analyze shifts in the consumption of illicit drugs, tobacco, and alcohol across specific demographic cohorts.

Researchers and public health officials frequently cite this report as a foundational statistical resource for understanding adolescent substance use patterns in the late 20th century. The text is noted for its high density of empirical data and its role in establishing baseline trends for subsequent longitudinal studies in the field of addiction science.