Abstract
A range of personal and social factors influence psychoactive substance use in young people. One of these influences is the perceived “functions” (or purposes) that using a drug is intended to fulfil (e.g. “helping to relax” or “to stay awake”). Using a sample of 100 young people aged 16‐22 years recruited in the community, this study explores the relationship between patterns of alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines and ecstasy use and perceived functions and other social influences. Multiple regression analyses indicated that the frequency of substance use was more influenced by functions than by the extent of peer use and that the experience of negative effects from using had very little influence. These findings suggest that consideration of the functions associated with substance use could be valuable in the development of educational and prevention programmes
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
