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Peer Effects in UK Adolescent Substance Use: Never Mind the Classmates?

Authors: 
McVicar, D. and Polanski, A.
Journal / Publication name: 
Oxford Bulletin of Economics and Statistics
Abstract: 

This article estimates peer influences on the alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use of UK adolescents. We present evidence of large, positive and statistically significant peer effects in all three behaviours when classmates are taken as the reference group. We also find large, positive and statistically significant associations between own substance use and friends' substance use. When both reference groups are considered simultaneously, the influence of classmates either disappears or is much reduced, whereas the association between own and friends' behaviours does not change. The suggestion is that classmate behaviour is primarily relevant only inasmuch as it proxies for friends' behaviour.

Publishing year: 
2014
Type of Document: 
Peer reviewed article/paper
Document language: 
English
URN: 
https://doi.org/10.1111/obes.12030