Adolescent ecstasy and other drug use in the National Survey of Parents and Youth: the role of sensation-seeking, parental monitoring and peer's drug use

Addict Behav. 2008 Jul;33(7):919-33. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.02.010. Epub 2008 Feb 21.

Abstract

The association between high sensation-seeking, close friends' drug use and low parental monitoring with ecstasy (MDMA) use in adolescence was examined in a sample of US household-dwelling adolescents aged 12-18 years (N=5049). We also tested whether associations were of stronger magnitude than associations between these correlates and marijuana or alcohol/tobacco use in adolescence. Data from Round 2 of the National Survey of Parents and Youth (NSPY) Restricted Use Files (RUF) was analyzed via Jackknife weighted multinomial logistic regression models. High sensation-seekers were more likely to be ecstasy, marijuana, and alcohol/tobacco users, respectively, as compared to low sensation-seekers. High sensation-seeking and close friends' drug use were more strongly associated with ecstasy as compared to marijuana and alcohol/tobacco use. Low parental monitoring was associated with marijuana use and alcohol/tobacco use and there was a trend for it to be associated with ecstasy use. Ecstasy use is strongly associated with peer drug use and more modestly associated with high sensation-seeking. School prevention programs should target high-sensation-seeking adolescents and also encourage them to affiliate with non-drug using peers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / epidemiology
  • Amphetamine-Related Disorders / psychology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Hallucinogens*
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Male
  • Marijuana Abuse / epidemiology
  • Marijuana Abuse / psychology
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine*
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Peer Group*
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / epidemiology
  • Tobacco Use Disorder / psychology

Substances

  • Hallucinogens
  • N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine