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Peer influence significantly impacts an individual's substance use by shaping behaviors and attitudes towards substances. During adolescence and young adulthood, individuals are particularly susceptible to influence from their peers, which can lead to increased experimentation with drugs and alcohol. Friends and social circles can reinforce behaviors, normalize substance use, and create environments where using substances becomes a shared activity.

When peers engage in substance use, it can create a perception that such behavior is acceptable, desirable, or even necessary for social acceptance. This influence often goes beyond the immediate social group; broader cultural or community patterns related to substance use can also play a role in shaping individual choices.

While developing a supportive network or encouraging positive choices can be aspects of peer relationships, the prevailing influence of peers often leans towards reinforcing risky behaviors, especially in contexts where substance use is normalized among the group. Therefore, understanding the dynamics of peer influence is crucial when addressing and developing prevention and intervention strategies in substance use disorders.