Page 157 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Affect heuristics in substance use

in behaviors, such as smoking, which cause individuals and significant correlations between substance use by
to downplay health risks due to the short-term pleasure adolescents and interactions with other individuals using
associated with smoking. these substances. These findings reinforce the importance
According to van Ryzin et al. (2012) the proportion of the of socialization in substance consumption. In particular,
population that consumes alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, studies by researchers such as (Malta et al., 2011; Malta et al.,
and illicit drugs increases during the adolescent years. This 2014; Horta et al., 2014; Barreto et al., 2014; and Figueiredo
finding indicates that individuals change their exposure and et al., 2016) have also identified this trend in Brazil.
risk behaviors related to using these substances throughout Benchaya et al. (2019) explored the link between
adolescence. The decisions of adolescents, to smoke, family dynamics and substance abuse, finding that
consume alcohol, or take illicit drugs are related to the healthy parent-child relationships protect against drug
affective impulse of the moment—to experience positive abuse; meanwhile, the absence of a father figure increases
feelings, socialize with friends, belong to a group, and avoid the risks of drug abuse. In addition, they noted that
loneliness (Slovic, 2000; Oliveira & Pucci, 2021; Sousa et al., adolescents often consume alcohol in the presence of
2024), highlighting the importance of social interactions and their parents. Arcadepani & Fidalgo (2023) examined the
the affect heuristic in the consumption of such substances. relationship between substance use and violent behavior
According to Manski (2000), the effects of social among Brazilian adolescents, revealing that recent use of
interaction are observed when the decisions of agents alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs contributed significantly
are influenced by those of others. Manski identified to violent behavior, as per data acquired from the 2015
three channels through which such effects could occur: National School Health Survey (NSHS).
Restrictions, expectations, and preferences. Interactions Fernandes et al. (2022) also used data from the 2015 NSHS,
through restrictions occur when constraints on individual reporting that sleep difficulties and feelings of loneliness are
choices are affected by the decisions of other individuals. linked to higher frequencies of alcohol and cigarette use
Meanwhile, interactions through expectations occur when among adolescents. Arruda et al. (2022) investigated factors
individual expectations are shaped by information obtained affecting alcohol consumption among adolescents and
by observing the choices made by other individuals and found that public school students and girls were more likely
the outcomes of those decisions. Finally, interactions to consume alcohol than private school students and boys.
through preferences occur when an agent prioritizes their They highlighted that substance use by friends and parental
preferred alternatives based on the options selected by other smoking contributed to such behavior. Notably, students
agents (Manski, 2000). According to Kaplan et al. (1984), attending schools involved in the Health at School Program
individuals whose peers share favorable preferences for a did not exhibit reduced alcohol consumption.
certain activity are more likely to engage in these activities,
including activities such as excessive consumption of alcohol, Sousa et al. (2024) analyzed the combined use of alcohol,
cigarettes, and illicit drugs. For the authors, the effect of peers tobacco, and illicit drugs among Brazilian adolescents. They
on the use of substances by adolescents, such as illicit drugs, identified mental health issues, early substance use, peer
for example, can occur both through involvement with peers pressure, parental substance use, and lack of monitoring as
who use drugs after the adolescent begins using drugs, and significant factors influencing such behavior.
also through increased general susceptibility to adopting Oliveira & Pucci (2021) conducted a systematic review
drug use influenced by peers who already use drugs. of adolescent substance use in Brazil. They detected key
Needle et al. (1986) based their analysis of the influence biological, psychological, social, and religious factors
of friends and parents on adolescent behaviors concerning including poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, sleep
substance use on the importance of social interactions and issues, family alcoholism, bullying, and social vulnerability.
peer influence. Manski (2000) pointed out the difficulties In general, these studies addressing the relationship
of defining peers for certain groups of individuals. In this between substance use by adolescents and substance
context, several empirical studies have sought to analyze use by friends and family have treated substance use
this correlation based on data from various countries and separately, even when they have investigated the use of
socioeconomic contexts. different substances. However, as Slovic (2000) and Slovic
Studies by scholars such as (Graham et al., 1991; Biglan et al. (2002; 2005) have discussed, from the perspective
et al., 1995; Norton et al., 1998; Sutherland & Shepherd, of the affect heuristic, the affective impulse that results in
2001; Guo et al., 2002; Lundborg, 2006; Trucco et al., 2011; consuming a type of substance is the same for other types
Allen et al., 2012; Van Ryzin et al., 2012; Zimmerman & of substance use because the same affect is related to the
Farrel, 2016; and Chan et al., 2017) have indicated positive consumption of different types of substances.

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 149 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.3829