Adolescent substance use is a serious public health concern with negative individual and societal consequences (Chassin, Ritter, Trim, & King, 2003). Rates of substance use among youths aged 12–17 are high, with current (i.e., past month) alcohol use at almost 15 %, tobacco use at almost 12 %, and overall illicit drug use at 10 % (SAMHSA, 2012). The typical age of substance use onset occurs between 13 and 15 (Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 1999). As such, it is important to understanding the risk and protective factors that affect substance use in adolescence, which may inform the content and timing of intervention programs designed to reduce substance use in this vulnerable population.
