THE ROLE OF CULTURAL NORMS IN THE SELF-ESTEEM AND DRUG-USE RELATIONSHIP

It is widely believed that low self-esteem (SE) is associated with gre ater substance use, although previous research has been unable to supp ort such a relationship consistently. The present study used the ''soc ial deviance model'' to investigate whether SE was differentially rela ted to substance use for respondents in varying cultural norms. Respon ses to intensity of tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and drug use, SE, and cultural norm items from over 2,000 high school and college students failed to support this model.