Citation

De Haan L, Trageton R. Adolesc. Fam. Health 2001; 2(2): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Instutute for Youth Development)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Although rural adolescents use alcohol and drugs at comparable or even higher rates than their suburban and urban peers, reasons for rural adolescent substance use have not been studied extensively. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between source and context of information received about alcohol and drug use and substance use prevalence and attitudes. The study also examines whether specific information about substance use from five sources (family, friends,school, church, and media) is more important than the nature of relationships or involvement in these five areas. After 97 rural seventh and eighth graders completed surveys, results indicated that these adolescents received a vast amount of information regarding substance use, but this information was not related to either prevalence or attitudes. Even though type and amount of information was not related to either prevalence or attitudes, close connections with family and school were related to decreased use and negative attitudes about alcohol, while peer attachment and hours spent watching TV was associated with increased substance use.

Language: en