NCJ Number
139723
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 27 Issue: 8 Dated: (1992) Pages: 995-1017
Date Published
1992
Length
23 pages
Annotation
The communication processes by which drugs are offered to college students and by which these offers are refused were studied using data from a questionnaire survey of 452 university students in the southwestern United States.
Abstract
The students had a median age of 19 and ranged from 17 to 42 years old. Forty-four percent were females, and 56 percent were males. The questionnaire asked them to describe a drug offer they had refused and to provide demographic information and data about current drug abuse. Log linear analyses examined the results. Findings revealed that the prevailing pattern was of simple offers followed by simple statements of no, with no continuing pressure by the person making the offer. However, some form of pressure was reported in almost half of the cases and most often resulted from resisting through statements of dislike for the product or lack of desire. The least amount of pressure was associated with offers of marijuana. Results suggested that alcohol and other drugs may be easier to resist than previously thought and cast doubt on the prevalence of peer pressure as a model for all drug and alcohol consumption. Findings also suggested the desirability of teaching resistance skills in high school and college classrooms. Additional recommendations, tables, appended instrument, author biographies, and 20 references