A new study out of the Universite de Montreal has found that popular students are likely to engage in teen substance abuse in order to retain their popularity. The study followed more than 500 young people between the ages of ten and 15, and tracked their drug and alcohol consumption.
“Although experimentation increased with age, regardless of social status, Fallu and his colleagues found that popularity significantly compounded consumption. In fact, by age 15, the ‘cool kids’ – when affiliating with drug-using popular friends – were consuming twice as often as other youths. In other words, this effect was only seen with popular adolescents whose friends were also popular.” - Source: Postmedia News
The study results are exactly the opposite of what many parents and teachers have believed for years – that drinking and drug use are actions taken by kids seeking popularity. Instead, it’s the already-popular ones who feel the pressure and are at greatest risk for substance abuse.
Labels: drug-abuse, alcohol abuse, students
Posted By: Aspen Education Group