ABSTRACT
Background
Outcomes associated with adolescent alcohol use with parental permission are not well understood. The current study examined associations between alcohol use with and/or without parental permission and past year cigarette and marijuana use among high school students.
Methods
High school students reported on alcohol use (with and without parental permission) and other substance use.
Results
Findings indicated that those who only used alcohol with parental permission were less likely to also use marijuana than those who used alcohol both with and without parental permission as well as youth who only used alcohol without parental permission. However, risk for cigarette use did not differ for those who used alcohol only with parental permission from those who only used alcohol without parental permission.
Conclusions
The current study further indicates that alcohol use with parental permission does not necessarily reduce risk for negative outcomes associated with adolescent alcohol use.
Highlights
Alcohol with and without parental permission is common.
Alcohol with and without parental permission is most strongly linked to other substance use.
Alcohol use with parental permission is associated with cigarette use.
Parental permission for alcohol use does not necessarily reduce risks associate with drinking.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).