What is the harm of overestimating teen involvement in alcohol and other drugs?
Perceived norms are some of the strongest predictors of future health behavior – as individuals tend to behave to what they think is typical or accepted. This has been shown to be especially true in peer-intensive environments – during adolescence and on college campuses – when the internal urge to conform is very powerful. Misperceived norms are the hidden risk factor not usually addressed in efforts to reduce underage drinking and drug use. In fact, many traditional efforts using scare tactics alone have been shown to increase misperceptions and contribute to the problem. Norm clarification is considered to be the essential component in effective, evidence-based drug education curricula. As students mature they will likely encounter complex social situations and challenging personal decisions about alcohol and drug use. At the very least, they need and deserve an accurate context about their peers true behaviors and attitudes when making these very important decisions. Believing that
