Are perceptions of social norms regarding peer alcohol and other drug use associated with personal use in Danish adolescents?

Aims: This study aims to describe norm perceptions among Danish pupils aged 13–17 years related to the prevalence of personal lifetime use of alcohol and other drugs (AODs). Further we examined if norm perceptions were associated with personal lifetime AOD use. Method: The data were collected as baseline data in the trial The GOOD Life. A total of 2601 pupils from 42 public schools in the Region of Southern Denmark completed an online questionnaire measuring personal lifetime AOD use and personal approval of use. Additionally the perceived frequency of AOD use and approval of use among peers of their own grade were measured. Lifetime AOD outcome variables were alcohol consumption (at least one drink, being drunk and had five or more drinks on one occasion), smoking, and cannabis use. Results: Pupils’ perceptions of peer approval were significantly higher than pupils’ personal approval of AOD use among adolescents for all outcomes. With the exception of cannabis use the estimated AOD prevalence among peers (median) were higher than the actual prevalence of personal lifetime use. Multilevel logistic regression models showed a significantly increased risk of personal AOD use for pupils that overestimated their peers’ AOD use and also for pupils that perceived peers to approve of AOD use. Conclusions: The findings highlight that pupils’ exaggerated perceptions regarding their peers’ use and approval of AOD use are related to personal experience with AODs.