title: Confirmatory analyses of reasons for experiencing psychoactive drugs during adolescence.
abstract: This study established empirically defined reasons for experiences with psychoactive drugs by adolescents. By means of cross-validating procedures involving a series of principal component analyses of data obtained from three separate sample groups, three common motives or reasons for trying/taking drugs were derived: a tension-reduction, or coping motive; a drug-effect motive; and a peer-related motive. The implications of the findings for further research and for treatment and prevention programs are reviewed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000413:Alaska; D002648:Child; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010379:Peer Group; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012106:Research; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*