Questionnaires were administered in March 1990 to a sample of 235 seventh graders in the public school system of a rural community in the southeastern United States. Risk factors included being home alone after school, peer approval of drugs, pressure to use drugs, history of trouble with the police, history of alcohol and cigarette use, high delinquent behavior, and high emotional distress. All but 1 of the 20 risk factors were significantly related to at least 1 category of drug use. In addition, a risk factor index based on a subset of 10 risk factors was significantly associated with the prevalence and frequency of use for cigarettes, beer and wine, hard liquor, marijuana, and other drugs. The findings support the generalizability of a risk factor approach to predicting drug use and underscore the need for increased prevention and research efforts directed at rural adolescents. 28 references, 4 tables, and 1 figure