Social Factors Associated with Changes in Attitudes and Behaviors of Students towards Drugs

This study examines social factors associated with changes in attitudes and behaviors of students towards smoking and drugs. The study is a retrospective longitudinal survey. The sample included 299 male and female students of Kharazmi University. Social bonding theory, differential opportunity, differential association and anomie theory were used as theoretical framework of this study. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between the independent variables (gender, marital status, parent’s socio-economic status, academic field of study, differential opportunity, engagement, differential association, sense of anomie, academic failure, failure in love) and dependent variables (changing behavior and attitudes towards drugs). However, the quality of relationship between independent variables and attitudes towards drugs were different from that of drug use. In general, it is indicated that the amount of change in using drugs and smoking is more than change of attitude. Among independent variables, commitment, engagement and differential opportunities are more significant in changing behavior and attitudes towards drugs.