SD. 3.6

PEER ATTITUDES TOWARDS ALCOHOL, MARIJUANA,
COCAINE, AND SMOKING

Drug use is correlated with attitudes and beliefs about drugs, both in terms of perceived health risks and the level of peer disapproval.³³ As children reach adolescence, peer influences on personal behavior can take on increasing importance in determining the use of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes.

The majority of high school seniors have long reported peer disapproval of drug and alcohol use and cigarette smoking as reflected in their responses to questions of the level of disapproval they would receive from their peers for: 1) taking one to two drinks nearly every day; 2) smoking marijuana even occasionally (as opposed to trying it once); 3) taking cocaine even occasionally (as opposed to trying it once); and, 4) smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day (see Table SD 3.6).

Peer disapproval of drinking and smoking marijuana among 12th graders increased from 1981 to 1992 to highs of 78 percent and 79 percent, respectively. Disapproval of both these actions began to decline in 1993. By 1995, the percentage of 12th grade students who reported peer disapproval of drinking was 73 percent, and of smoking marijuana was 65 percent (see Figure SD 3.6). Peer disapproval of smoking cigarettes has also declined since 1992, although disapproval levels had been relatively stable prior to that time. In 1995, 69 percent of 12th graders reported peer disapproval of smoking cigarettes, down from a high of 76 percent in 1992. Peer disapproval of cocaine use increased from 87 percent in 1986 to 95 percent in 1991 and has remained at this level. Cocaine use commands the highest level of peer disapproval for every year shown.

Differences by Gender. Male high school seniors have consistently reported lower levels of peer disapproval of drinking than have their female peers. In 1995, 65 percent of males reported peer disapproval of drinking, compared to 80 percent of females. Disapproval rates for cigarette use were similar for males and females until 1993, when male disapproval began to decrease. Male students also report somewhat lower peer disapproval of smoking marijuana.

Differences by Race. For 1995, rates of disapproval for drug use were generally similar for blacks and whites, with the exception of cigarette smoking. Among blacks, 81 percent reported peer disapproval of smoking compared to 67 percent among white students.
 

Figure SD 3.6   Percentage of High School Seniors Who Reported that Peers Would Not Approve of Their Using Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine, or Cigarettes: 1995

Source: Johnston, L.D., Bachman, J.G. , O’Malley, P.M. “The Monitoring the Future: Questionnaire responses from the Nation’s High School Seniors.” 1981, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995. (Form 4.) Ann Arbor, Michigan: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan.
 
 

Table SD 3.6   Percentage of High School Seniors Who Reported that Peers Would Not Approve of Their Using Alcohol, Marijuana, Cocaine, or Cigarettes:  Selected Years 1981-1995
				1981	1986	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
				———	———	———	———	———	———	———
Disapprove of taking one to two drinks nearly every day
Total				70	76	77	78	77	76	73
			Gender
		Male		61	68	68	69	68	67	65
		Female		79	84	85	85	85	83	80
			Race
		White		69	75	77	77	76	76	72
		Black		73	82	80	81	80	78	74
Disapprove of smoking marijuana even occasionally
Total				56	64	76	79	74	69	65
			Gender
		Male		54	60	73	78	72	63	62
		Female		58	68	78	80	75	74	69
			Race
		White		55	63	75	78	73	68	64
		Black		62	72	86	84	76	70	69
Disapprove of taking cocaine even occasionallya
Total				--	87	95	94	94	94	94
			Gender
		Male		--	84	93	93	92	91	92
		Female		--	90	96	96	96	96	95
			Race
		White		--	88	96	96	95	94	95
		Black		--	89	97	91	89	94	92
Disapprove of smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day
Total				74	76	74	76	72	72	69
			Gender
		Male		74	75	72	76	68	67	65
		Female		74	77	77	75	75	77	74
			Race
		White		74	75	72	77	71	69	67
		Black		75	81	88	75	80	83	81
aThe question regarding cocaine use was not included prior to 1986.   Source: Johnston, L.D., Bachman, J.G., O’Malley, P.M. "The Monitoring the Future: Questionnaire Responses from the Nation’s High School Seniors." 1981, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995. (Form 4) Ann Arbor, Michigan: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan. Data based on one of six questionnaire forms with a resulting sample size one-sixth of the total sample size for each year.