Not My Little Angel

This document, summarizing the Survey of Montana Parenting Behavior and Perceptions Associated with Teen Substance Use, addresses the misperceptions associated with parenting and social norms, especially with regard to teenage substance abuse. It is likely the first time a survey has focused on documenting the normative expectations of parents of teenagers. This survey found that parents tend to believe their teens are not representative of typical teenagers, that there is great disparity between how parents see themselves parenting, and how they perceive other parents raising their children. Parent respondents perceived that typical parents were more lenient in the manner in which they raise their children than they themselves were. Parent respondents also thought that typical teenagers were more likely than their children to use tobacco, alcohol and marijuana.