Despite these limitations, the current study extends the literature on peer influence and adolescent substance use in several important ways. First, although there is a large literature examining the influence of peers on adolescent cigarette and alcohol use, peer influence is likely to vary across individuals, and few studies have examined this issue other than considering gender. Second, our findings suggest that social goals impact vulnerability to peer influences on substance use, and this has important implications for theory refinement and prevention. Current socialization theories of adolescent substance use should incorporate moderators, and one such moderating variable is social goals. Finally, our findings suggest that socialization processes may be different in the early stages of alcohol and cigarette use. If this pattern is replicated, then etiological models and prevention efforts that focus on peer socialization may need to have some drug specific components. Overall, our findings provide support for continued research on interpersonal processes, especially social goals, and their relationship to substance use initiation.
