The marihuana perception inventory: stage 3--the parent sample

This article reports the third step in the development of a perceptual inventory of factors associated with marihuana use. Identification of those factors, along with an analysis of demographic characteristics is designed to facilitate the formulation of drug education programs. This third phase was an administration of the inventory to sixty-parents who were also members of a community anti-drug group. Their beliefs are strong, as evidenced by their active association with the group. Factors analysis revealed a five-factor solution that utilized all thirty-four items of the inventory. Scales were again labeled Parental Limitations, Societal Issues, Inherent Predispositions, Rebelliousness, and Maturational Difficulties. Since there was a shift between parents and youths in specific items that made up the scales, it appears that drug educators will need to take parents' perceptions into account when designing programs.