Risk Factors for Substance Use among High School Students: Implications for Prevention

To identify salient risk factors for drug use that could be targeted for modification in prevention programs, a survey was administered to a sample of 1,091 urban and suburban 10th grade students. Substantial proportions of students reported alcohol and cigarette use in the past year, and around 10% reported heavy use of these substances. In general, the measured risk factors most strongly associated with the use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana were those derived from the socialization model of substance use; however, certain factors derived from the stress/strain and disaffiliation models also were related to increased drug use risk.