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Perceptions of Risk From Substance Use Among Adolescents

NCJ Number
233619
Date Published
November 2009
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report presents information on adolescent perceptions of great risk from using various substances.
Abstract
Results show that the perception of risk associated with the initiation of drug, alcohol, or cigarette use varies by gender, age, and type of drug. Understanding the risk perceptions of adolescents may help to better target health communication messages and increase the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs. Findings show adolescents' perceptions of risk from using alcohol and marijuana decrease as youths become older, making the initiation of their use more likely. Additionally, as youths grow older, their perceptions of the risks associated with the use of heroin, cocaine, and LSD increase. The current perception of the risk associated with cigarette use has reached 70 percent and is sustained across adolescent age groups; males aged 12 or 13 were more likely than those aged 14 or 15 and those aged 16 or 17 to have perceived great risk from smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day, whereas the perception of risk among females generally increased with age. The rate of perceived risk from having five or more drinks of alcohol once or twice a week decreased steadily by age among males; females aged 12 or 13 were more likely to perceive great risk than older females, but females aged 14 or 15 and those aged 16 or 17 had a similar rate of perception of great risk. Data were collected from the 2007 and 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). 4 figures and 1 endnote