Drug taking beliefs of Australian adolescents: A pilot study

In this study adolescents offered their insights and perspectives of factors associated with adolescent illicit drug taking intentions. The factors explored were identified using a cross-disciplinary approach involving the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and criminological theories, and these formed the framework for data analysis. Interviews with 24 students aged 15-17 found that adolescents' beliefs to drug taking attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, moral norms, negative affect, and reputation enhancement involved a number a sub-themes that provided an in-depth understanding of the association of these components to intended drug use. The incorporation of these elements in drug education programs could be an effective approach in prevention interventions for adolescent drug use.