The study instrument included satisfaction statements relative to motives for leisure participation patterns. Students were asked to complete an anonymous questionnaire to determine current alcohol and drug use and leisure behavior, and to identify pleasures sought in each pursuit. Findings revealed four statistically significant associations in the motives or pleasures sought in recreation and drug behavior: enhancement of popularity, provision of a means for self-discovery, achievement of personal goals, and means to rebel against parents. In terms of preferred leisure activities, students in the medium- sized town enjoyed going to the beach, sports, house parties, hanging out at the mall, and visiting friends. Students in the rural town preferred going to the beach, sports, house parties, listening to music, and religious activities. For both groups, reports of the use of alcohol were slightly lower than the national norm but still relatively high. Adolescents who reported using dangerous drugs did so for entertainment and to relieve stress. Neither drugs nor recreation were used to rebel against parents. Recreation served to insulate adolescents against many of the stressors of contemporary life. 14 references and 4 tables