The relative influence of friends and functions: modelling frequency of substance use in a non‐treatment sample of 16‐22 year olds

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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