(The Dalgarno Institute has decades long history in not only advocating, but practicing in this space. The school social context is an intense micro-verse that until recent decades, was a place where proactive, resilience and agency building education was standard. However, other agendas have seen that best-practice model not only interrupted, but displaced with not merely benign inactivity, but best-practice contra influences. It is time to re-engage with best practice in this vital educational context)
Substance use in young people is not a new concern. But a major study published in 2026 has shed important light on where and why it happens. The findings come from over 30,000 adolescents aged 12 to 15 across the south of England. They point clearly in one direction: schools matter far more than we may have realised.
Understanding what drives adolescent substance use is essential. So is knowing what protects against it. Both are needed to build prevention approaches that reach young people before problems take hold.
What the Research Found About Adolescent Substance Use
The study appeared in the International Journal of Drug Policy. It looked at four types of substance use among secondary school pupils: vaping, smoking, alcohol consumption, and illicit drug use including cannabis.
Researchers used statistical modelling that accounted for both school and neighbourhood contexts at the same time. The results were striking. Neighbourhood membership alone explained between 3% and 6% of the variation in substance use. But when school and neighbourhood were examined together, the neighbourhood effect disappeared entirely. The school context remained significant, accounting for between 6% and 8.5% of the variance.
In short: which school a young person attends matters more than where they live.
Schools are where young people spend most of their time. They form peer relationships there. They develop their sense of self. That makes schools one of the most powerful settings for prevention work.
Peer Pressure, Parents and the Role of Relationships
Relationships sit at the heart of adolescent substance use risk. Not all of them push in the same direction.
Susceptibility to peer pressure was one of the strongest risk factors in the study. It linked to 33% to 58% higher odds of using all four substances. Young people with stronger friendships also showed slightly higher odds of substance use, around 8% to 20% higher. Close peer groups can provide greater access to substances. They can also reinforce norms where use feels normal or expected.
Strong relationships with parents and carers worked the other way. Young people who felt closer to the adults at home had 16% to 27% lower odds of using any substance. Good relationships with teaching staff showed a similar protective effect across all four substances.
Trusted adults matter. At home and at school, meaningful adult relationships are among the most effective safeguards against young people using drugs and alcohol.
School Life and Adolescent Substance Use Risk
Several aspects of school life linked directly to substance use in the study. Young people who felt happier with their academic attainment were less likely to use any substance. Those with a stronger sense of belonging at school were less likely to vape, smoke or use illicit drugs.
School pressure showed a small but notable link to alcohol consumption. When young people feel overwhelmed and lack constructive ways to manage that pressure, risk increases. Emotional support and stress management need to be part of the school environment, not an afterthought.
Young people who used school-based mental health support showed higher rates of substance use. This likely reflects the fact that those with significant emotional difficulties are more vulnerable to substance use. It points to the importance of early intervention, reaching young people before difficulties escalate.
Emotional Wellbeing as a Prevention Priority
Emotional wellbeing connects closely to substance use in young people, particularly for vaping, smoking and alcohol. Young people with more internalising symptoms, such as worry or low mood, had higher odds of using these substances. Those with lower self-esteem were more likely to vape or drink alcohol.
Young people need practical skills and trusted networks to handle difficult feelings in healthy ways. Building emotional resilience is not separate from preventing substance use. It is a core part of it.
Illicit drug use followed a different pattern. Coping-related factors mattered less. Instead, peer influence, family relationships and unstructured leisure time were the main drivers. Strong adult relationships and structured activities protect against this type of substance use in young people.
Who Faces the Highest Risk
The research identified several groups with elevated risk:
Older adolescents showed consistently higher odds across all substances. Those in Year 10 had nearly four times the odds of illicit drug use compared to those in Year 8. Early and consistent prevention education throughout secondary school is essential.
LGBTQ+ young people showed higher odds of using all four substances compared to cisgender heterosexual boys. Their odds of smoking were more than double. Prevention programmes need to reach this group effectively.
Girls were more likely than boys to vape, drink alcohol and smoke. The historical gender gap in adolescent substance use has narrowed significantly. Prevention strategies need to reflect this.
Young people eligible for free school meals were more likely to vape, smoke and use illicit drugs. Prevention work must reach young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Those with special educational needs (SEN) showed mixed patterns. Those receiving SEN support had higher odds of vaping and smoking but lower odds of alcohol consumption. Prevention approaches for this group need to address specific risks carefully.
Free Time, Local Spaces and Keeping Young People Safe
How young people spend their free time plays a real role in adolescent substance use. More perceived leisure autonomy, meaning time spent freely without adult supervision, linked to higher odds of vaping and illicit drug use. Unstructured, unsupervised time is a known risk factor.
Young people who felt there were good places to spend time locally, such as parks, leisure centres or community spaces, had lower odds of vaping, illicit drug use and alcohol consumption. Accessible activities and safe spaces help keep young people occupied and away from substances.
What This Means for Prevention of Substance Use in Young People
The findings carry clear implications for anyone working to protect young people from drugs and alcohol.
Schools are the right setting for prevention work. School-based approaches reach young people at a critical time. Universal strategies that improve school climate, strengthen belonging and build positive relationships matter for every pupil.
Targeted prevention is essential. Some groups face higher risks across multiple substances. Others face substance-specific vulnerabilities. Prevention must be tailored to reach those at greatest risk before use begins.
Relationships are prevention. A trusted teacher, a supportive parent, a positive school environment. The evidence points repeatedly to the power of adult relationships in reducing the likelihood of adolescent substance use.
Resilience and coping skills are protective. Building young people’s capacity to manage stress through healthy means reduces the conditions that make substance use more likely.
Early adolescence is a critical window. Prevention efforts that start early, focus on school environments and strengthen relationships can genuinely keep young people safe. (Source: WRD News)
Also see
- The Deep Impact of Youth Substance Use The Imperative and Urgent Need for Prevention: A Dive into Human Harms Beyond the ‘Stats’ (White Paper)
- AOD Primary Prevention & Demand Reduction Priority Primer: TASKING THE NATIONAL HEALTH STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNITY WELL-BEING
- Parenting in the Era of Pro-Pot Propaganda & Other Substance Selling Sociopathy
- Prioritizing Abstinence-Based Prevention, Regulation, and Recovery to Reduce Substance-Related Harm and Promote Mental Health at a Population-Level