SIMILARITY IN DRUG-USE PATTERNS BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS AND THEIR FRIENDS

The literature indicates that peer influence is important in understan ding adolescent drug use. The nature of peer interactions predicts a h igh degree of similarity in drug use among friends. To test that hypot hesis, a detailed analysis of this correspondence was conducted on a l arge sample of junior and senior high school students. Findings indica ted that a youth who used specific drugs in the last thirty days almos t invariably has friends who also use those same drugs, but is conside rably less likely to have friends who use other drugs or no drugs. In addition, friends' use is strongly associated with the adolescent's us e of marijuana, uppers, cocaine, downers, and PCP across five distinct drug use styles.