Internal-external control and drug use among junior high school students in a rural community

Internal-external (I-E) control and current drug use were assessed among rural junior high school students. As expected, a negative relationship was found between internal control and drug use quantity-frequency. Correlations involving I-E control and drug use outcomes, while in the expected direction, were not significant. Data from the junior high sample were compared with previously collected high school data, and it was found that while overall patterns of use were similar for the two groups, the junior high students report lower quantity-frequency and more social complications.