ALCOHOL AND MARIJUANA USE AMONG RURAL YOUTH - INTERACTION OF SOCIAL AND INTRAPERSONAL INFLUENCES

Epidemiological research indicates that the prevalence rate of drug us e among adolescents has risen steadily during this decade, and althoug h alcohol use has stabilized it is still highly prevalent. Psychosocia l etiological models have typically examined main effects of risk and protective factors. This study examined moderating effects of intraper sonal skills on social (peer and parental) risks associated with alcoh ol and marijuana use among eighth-grade rural adolescents, an understu died population Results indicated that the relationships of peer and p arental attitudes, and peer usage to alcohol and marijuana use, are mo derated by adolescents' decision-making and self-reinforcement skills. Social risk factors were strongly associated with increased alcohol a nd marijuana use among adolescents with poor intrapersonal skills. How ever, good decision-making and self-reinforcement skills diminished th e influence of social risk factors on substance use. Results are discu ssed in terms of implications for psychosocial models of alcohol and d rug use, and for designing effective school-based universal prevention interventions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.