The Influence of Social Norms on College Student Alcohol and Marijuana Use

The Alcohol and Other Drug survey (adapted from D. Thombs, 1999) was administered to 235 undergraduates at a southeastern university to assess the influence that gender‐specific normative perceptions have on 2 substance abuse patterns. Multiple regression analyses confirmed that gender‐specific normative beliefs accounted for variance in alcohol use intensity and frequency of marijuana use beyond the variance accounted for by sociodemographic variables. Implications for college counselors are discussed.