Dimensions of adolescent drug-avoidant attitude

Attitudes toward drug and alcohol use and adolescent rates of substance use and abuse have consistently exhibited strong relationships. Yet, the authors maintain that the global construct of drug use attitude is amorphous and lacking in defined boundaries that allow for effective educational and treatment interventions. The purpose of the study was to examine the underlying dimensions of drug use attitudes that relate to substance use by adolescents. Six constitutive dimensions of drug use attitude were identified through factor analysis. These six dimensions are perceived peer attitude, alcohol-avoidant attitude, drug-avoidant attitude, performance attitude, image enhancement attitude, and perceived parental attitude. All six factors were found to correlate significantly with both drug experimentation and frequency of drug use. Two internally referenced factors (drug-and alcohol-avoidant attitudes) are discussed as outcomes of the attitude formation process. The four externally referenced attitude components (peer, parental, image enhancement, and performance attitudes) may influence the formation of internalized attitudes and suggest the need for interventions targeting peer and parental relations and youths' understanding and perception of how drug use impacts personal appearance and performance.