Family, peer and school relationships as predictors of tobacco, alcohol and cannabis use in Irish adolescents: differences between sustained and experimental substance use.

Abstract

Adolescence is a vital period in shaping behaviour patterns. Substance use is one of the most commonly studies risk behaviours among adolescents. There are three mutually exclusive levels of substance use: non-use, experimentation and current use. Understanding the social context of the experience of substance use is at the core of comprehending substance use among adolescents. Parental, peer and school influences have all been previously shown to be associated with adolescent substance use.