RT Article
T1 Peer Influence in Initiation to Heroin Use
JF Journal of drug issues
VO 51
IS 2
SP 323
OP 339
A1 Costello, Barbara J.
A2 Anderson, Brad 1924-2015
A2 Stein, Michael
LA English
YR 2021
UL https://krimdok.uni-tuebingen.de/Record/1750798212
AB Much research on heroin initiation shows that most people use heroin initially with friends or family. However, there is little research examining why those who use heroin would initiate others to its use, and conversely, whether and why one might try to prevent initial heroin use in others. Following recent work on peer influence on crime and delinquency, we test the hypothesis that those with higher levels of self-control are less likely to initiate others to heroin use and are more likely to try to prevent others from using for the first time. The sample included 370 persons entering an opioid withdrawal program. We find that those with low self-control are more likely to initiate others, but there is no relationship between self-control and trying to prevent initiation. We further investigate self-reported motives for initiating others, and find a mix of self-interested and more altruistic motives for initiating others.
K1 positive peer pressure
K1 heroin initiation
K1 Self-control theory
K1 Peer influence
DO 10.1177/0022042620979628