Peer influence and drug initiation among middle and high school students in midwestern United States

Peer influence has been cited as a major cause of teen drug use. This study intended to investigate how teenagers initiated their drug use with a focus on peer presence and influence. For those who never used drugs their approaches of rejecting peer influence of drug use were also investigated. A convenient sample of 393 students from three high schools in the Midwestern United States was surveyed in 2010. Data were collected in classroom setting by using a self-developed self-administered questionnaire. The cross-sectional survey was anonymous and conducted with the permissions of institutional research board, participating school authorities, and parental consent. Data were analyzed by using PASW software. Of the 197 students or 50.8% of the total who had ever used cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drugs, 82% reported their first time drug use was accompanied by someone they knew, and 40% admitted that the initiation was due to peers' influence, usually from a friend. Interestingly, 80% of those who used drugs did not think that they had pressed someone to use drugs. For those who did not use drugs (n=191), 69 or 36% reported being ever offered drugs, mostly alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana. When asked how they turned down the offer, “just say no”and “ignore the offer” were two most cited approaches. Statistical significance tests were further conducted to compare gender, race, and grade levels upon drug use and peer influence variables. Limitations and implications of the study will be discussed.