Cocaine Use Companions and Reasons for Using Cocaine (Tables 4.9 and 4.10)

Respondents were asked to indicate who, if anyone, was present with them the first time they used cocaine. Overall and for every age group, the majority of those who had ever used cocaine (79%) reported that a friend was present the first time they used (Table 4.9). Approximately 25% reported that a boyfriend, girlfriend, or spouse was with them. Fewer than 2% reported that they were alone the first time they used cocaine.

Respondents who reported that they had ever used cocaine also were asked to indicate the reasons that they used cocaine the first time, and past year users were asked why they used it in the past year. The most frequently cited reasons for using cocaine the first time appear to be experimentation (91%), thinking it would make them feel good (63%), and that their friends were using it (62%) (Table 4.9). Among past year users, overall the most frequently cited reason was that "my friends were using it" (Table 4.10). More than half of the sample overall cited this reason.

This page was last updated on December 30, 2008.