title: Peer leaders and substance use among high-risk adolescents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between individual drug use and peer leaders use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of drug use behaviors of 525 students randomized into three arms-control, standard, and networked where peers serve as group leaders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the combined male and female group, there was no association between peer leader and individual use. Among males, peer leader use at baseline was positively associated with individual alcohol use at post-test. Among females, peer leader use at post-test was negatively associated with marijuana and cigarette use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Having peer leaders in the network condition decreased the odds of marijuana and cigarette use among females. The opposite effect was found in males.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Health Sciences, California State University Northridge , Northridge, California , USA.
authors.forename: Patchareeya Pumpuang
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sussman
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Valente
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013334:Students; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology
keywords: adolescents; high risk; peer culture; peer influence; peer leaders; substance use