Inter‐ and Intragenerational Influences on Adolescent Marijuana Use1

To investigate inter‐ and intragenerational influences in adolescent marijuana use, a survey was undertaken on a representative sample of public secondary school students in New York State. Independent data were obtained from adolescents, their parents, and their best‐school‐friends. These relational data document the crucial role which members of the same generation play in adolescent illegal drug use. Involvement with other drug‐using adolescents is a more important correlate of adolescent marijuana use than is parental use of psychoactive drugs or alcohol (which provides a small influence). Inter‐ and intragenerational influences are synergistic, however. The highest rates of marijuana usage are observed among adolescents whose parents and best friends are drug users. Interactional generational factors influence levels of intragenerational influences. Implications of these data for parental and peer influence, the generation gap, and social change are discussed.