Attributions for abstinence from illicit drugs by university students

Abstract

Aim: To assess college students’ attributions for abstinence from alcohol and illicit drugs. Method: We recruited 125 undergraduates to rate the degree to which each of 41 listed reasons influenced their abstention from six specific substances (alcohol, MDMA/ecstasy, inhalants, cocaine, marijuana, and hallucinogens).

Findings: Internal consistency analyses revealed reliable subscales of reasons reflecting themes such as perceived harmful effects, absence of enjoyment, likely loss of control, effects on one's body, inconsistency with one's values and self-image, and difficulty acquiring the substance. Men and women rarely differed significantly in the reported importance of different types of reasons for abstaining. Perceived lack of enjoyment was rated as the most influential type of reason for abstaining regardless of drug type. Difficulty acquiring drugs and concerns about failing a drug test were rated as having a small influence on abstinence regardless of drug type.

Conclusions: Our results are consistent with previous research that found anticipated interpersonal and performance problems reportedly inhibit drug taking, but that difficulty acquiring drugs and drug testing concerns reportedly have little influence on motivation for abstinence. Education and prevention messages may have more impact to the degree that they emphasize those consequences young persons find meaningful.