A multivariate regression analysis of adolescent multiple drug use in two western Canadian provinces

This article reports on the results of a multiple regression analysis of an adolescent multiple drug use index on 17 predictor variables from the PRIDE CANADA Drug survey with 18,685 Grades 9 through 12 students in two Western Canadian provinces in 1995-96. The predictor variables represent eight familial, five school and peer, and four individual level attributes and behaviours. The regression analysis is used to estimate the combined effects along with the relative importance of the predictor variables on the students' self-reported use of 11 drugs combined into a multiple drug use index. Separate analyses are conducted for the male and female students. The results indicate that two of the most important predictor variables are the frequency with which both the female and male students report getting into trouble at school and the frequency of the students' participation in worship. The relative importance of these two variables and other variables in relation to the students' multiple use of drugs differ to some extent for the two genders.