Adolescent Drug Use: An Analysis

Abstract

In a survey of self-reports to a 60-item questionnaire from 3,348 students in Grades 8 to 12, an increase with age was found in the use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and the hallucinogens. Interestingly, the female Ss reported greater use of tobacco from Grades 8 to 11 than males. Alcohol still headed the list of favorite drugs, with 73% of the seniors reporting its use. Adequacy of family communication was negatively associated with drug usage, with peer advice and help being sought more frequently when youth were involved with drugs. Fear of harmful physiological effects was an important deterrent to the use of these substances; fear of arrest was not. Of the different hypotheses for drug use, strongest support was shown for differential association. Peer use of illegal drugs was an important correlate of the adolescents' use of these substances