Factors Associated with the Drug Use of Fifth through Eighth Grade Students

Abstract

This study examines demographic and psychosocial factors associated with drug use of fifth through eighth grade students ( N = 873). Nearly 28 percent of the students surveyed reported using cigarettes, alcohol or marijuana in the preceding four months. Associations with drug using peers had twice as much influence on drug use as the adolescent's own favorable drug use attitude. Both variables together explained 55 percent of the variance. Involvement in problem behaviors, beliefs about personal consequences of drug-taking, and adult and peer reinforcement and expectations were statistically significant and accounted for an additional 8 percent of the variance.