NCJ Number
159988
Date Published
1995
Length
25 pages
Annotation
Interviews with Puerto Rican adolescents in the South Bronx area of New York City formed the basis of an analysis of the effects of these youths' beliefs about the consequences of using different drugs influenced their drug use and the relationships among beliefs and social factors in the production of drug use.
Abstract
The data came from a two-wave probability sample of males aged 12-19. Sampling yielded 1,170 eligible males, of whom 76 percent took part in both interviews. Results revealed moderate relationships between beliefs about the consequences of using drugs and actual drug use. Moral beliefs had the strongest effect with respect to marijuana, but a weak effect overall. Beliefs about social sanctions had the strongest effects with respect to all other drugs. Health beliefs had the strongest effect with respect to marijuana and the second strongest effect with respect to all drugs. Social factors consistently reduced the effects of beliefs abut social sanctions, generally reducing them by about half. The social factors had a minimal effect on health and moral beliefs. Peers' drug use had the strongest effect on the use of all drugs. Findings suggest directions for prevention efforts. Tables and 25 references