Living with both parents is a less robust barrier to substance use than qualitative aspects of family life, particularly attachment to mothers. The latter is a robust inhibitor of substance use irrespective of regional differences in drug availability, weakening only in the face of more generally problematic behaviour. Perhaps because of their greater tendency to risk-taking or rule breaking, supervision appears more important for male than female drug use. These findings underscore the role of families, but especially that of mothers, in regulating the substance-related behaviour of young people.

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This international study investigates factors underlying international variations in rates of youth drug use among representative samples of 15-year-olds in five cities (Bremen, n = 871; Dublin, n = 983; Groningen, n = 487; Newcastle upon Tyne, n = 880; Rome, n = 666). It reveals a higher level of drug use in English-speaking compared to continental populations. Drug use was associated with peer, family and individual factors. Logistic regression showed that family structure and sport were associated with lower rates and delinquent behaviour with higher rates of drug use in all cities and among males and females. Among males, city of residence also independently predicted drug use. The effect of traditional families and studiousness in reducing drug use was most evident for male drug use in low-use cities: higher rates of use in English-speaking cities appear partially due to the drug use of low-risk males.

This study reports the results of a comparative survey with representative samples of 3,386 school attending youths, most of whom were 15 years of age and residing in five European cities. We found significant but low correlations between the type of family structure (intact family, model family, dual career houshold, single mother) and five forms of deviant behavior (tobacco smoking, cannabis use, delinquency, general drug use and a composite risk behavior scale). These correlations will be displaced by very high correlations with the level of drug using friends/peers. A number of differences were found between the youth from different cities in relation to these concerns. Results indicate differences among the cities in terms of the youths' relationships with drug use/deviance/risky behavior and family structure, gender role, and peer group behavior. This suggests that the cultural meanings associated with family, gender role, peer group, and risk behavior influence deviant outcomes.

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