Alain J and Imaine S
Background: friends play an important role in cigarette and cannabis usage during adolescence. However, the family is also a factor in exposing the adolescent to, or protecting them from, development of consumption. Experimentation with and consumption of these substances happens within a specific relationship configuration: that of a somewhat conflicting relationship between the young people and their parents. Methods: The study was conducted in the Paris area (France) among 15-18 year-olds enrolled in school, with whom we conducted 93 biographical interviews representing 483 person-years of a retrospective observation. Results: Consumption of cigarettes or cannabis is influenced by relationships with peers and meet-ups with friends, especially during weekends, or in the protective school environment. The relationship between adolescents consumption and parents attitude is two-way, consumption can be considered as much a cause of conflict as it is a consequence. Conclusions: First, the product-based approach (tobacco or cannabis) is less interesting than an approach of entry to addiction by life events. Secondly, the analysis of parent-adolescent conflicts and also of exits with friends seems to be powerful levers of action to prevent the entry into the use of cigarettes and cannabis.
English 
Spanish 
Chinese 
Russian 
German 
French 
Portuguese 
Hindi