Booze, drugs maintain — not boost — teen popularity, study finds

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True to mother's word, booze and drugs aren't the way to popularity. But if already popular, a new Canadian study suggests their consumption is one of the prices of retaining that status — at least to the view of teenagers.


Researchers at the Universite de Montreal report this week that with a rise in social position comes a significant rise in the frequency of drug and alcohol use, which is described as a kind of "social maintenance" strategy.


"Teenagers don't appear to consume to increase their popularity level; they would do it to remain well-liked," says Jean-Sebastien Fallu, lead researcher and professor in the school of psychoeducation. "It seems more about keeping their status than increasing it."


The study tracked the consumption of alcohol, marijuana and hard drugs of more than 500 youths at three stages — between ages 10 and 11, 12 to 13, and 14 to 15 — taking into account the popularity of both the participants and their friends.


Although experimentation increased with age, regardless of social status, Fallu and his colleagues found that popularity significantly compounded consumption. In fact, by age 15, the "cool kids" — when affiliating with drug-using popular friends — were consuming twice as often as other youths.


In other words, this effect was only seen with popular adolescents whose friends were also popular.


"If they're popular but they're friends are less popular, it's probably less of a challenge for them to maintain their social status," says Fallu, speculating why this exception was uncovered.


The study discredits the idea that less popular teens are at greater risk for drug and alcohol use, which some have theorized is a means of earning popularity.


Though social outcasts are indeed likelier to develop other deviant behaviours, such as violence, Fallu's research suggests it's a mistake to presume smooth sailing with well-adjusted kids.


"To be popular, function well, and have popular friends, doesn't mean an adolescent isn't at risk," says Fallu. "In fact, it probably means the adolescent is at higher risk for drug and alcohol use — at least for a short period of time."

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Researchers at the Universite de Montreal report this week that with a rise in social position comes a significant rise in the frequency of drug and alcohol use, which is described as a kind of "social maintenance" strategy