Identification of factors linked to cigarette, alcohol and drug consumption during adolescence

The goal of this study was to identify protective and risk factors linked t o substance use during adolescence. A sample of 1000 subjects participated in a four-wave data collection. Results showed that precocious substance us e is likely to be persistent. Moreover, school inadaptation, lack of parent al supervision and positive self-perception in relationships with peers hav e been identified as risk factors predictive of cigarette, alcohol and drug use. Protective factors were associated with high moral qualities and nega tive reaction to mother's use of cigarettes and alcohol. Findings are discu ssed in terms of developmental trajectories which might lead to substance u se and abuse through adult life.