Organized Group Activity as a Protective Factor Against Adolescent Substance Use

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between substance use and extracurricular school activities in a representative sample of adolescents in the southeastern United States. METHODS: Using a multiple logistic regression procedure in SPSS Base 8.0 for Windows, we analyzed the relationship of organized group activity with each illegal substance. RESULTS: Adolescents who participated in organized group activities were less likely to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, and smoke marijuana when compared to their nonparticipant peers (p=.0001). CONCLUSION: Previous studies have supported physical activity as a factor that may help prevent substance use. However, our results suggest that participation in organized groups is protective against substance use. (Abstract Adapted from Source: American Journal of Health Behavior, 2000.