NCJ Number
157621
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: (Winter 1995) Pages: 173-193
Date Published
1995
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This study involved an explicit test of a sensation-seeking perspective to help account for substance use (legal and illegal) among a sample of nearly 1,600 high school students responding to a survey conducted in 1991.
Abstract
The authors present analyses specific to drinking alcohol, getting drunk, tobacco use, use of marijuana or hashish, and use of harder drugs to determine if factors common to a sensation- seeking perspective help explain both the prevalence and frequency of substance use among adolescents. Findings provide strong support for considering sensation-seeking variables such as thrill-seeking, immediate gratification, and impulsivity to help explain self-reported substance use. Results show that for each of the five substance delinquencies examined, sensation- seeking factors generate statistically significant influences. Results point toward intrinsic rewards that initially promote and subsequently reinforce substance use; these perceived rewards include fun, thrills, the physiological "high" generated by drug or alcohol use, and the excitement of doing something illegal. The relevance of a sensation-seeking approach to social learning theory is explored. 4 tables and 34 references