Basic research and programs in substance abuse dealing directly with rural and small town populations lag far behind those aimed at urban groups, in both quality and quantity. A study was conducted to identify factors related to substance use by a preadolescent and early adolescent rural and small town population. Data were collected from 496 middle school students in rural Northern Michigan during October, 1981. Student responses concerning drug knowledge, personal drug use, peer drug use, moral issues, and drug health beliefs and attitudes were analyzed. The results of the survey suggest that a multitude of mood-modifying substances are being used by the early adolescents studied. Age was found to be the most important single indicator of drug use, but sex differences were also found to be related to drug use. A steady increase was found for alcohol and cigarette use in this sample with respect to age, while marihuana consumption increased significantly betwen the seventh and eighth grades. Sex was an important variable when related to the use or non-use and to the extent of use of certain drug substances. Girls reported more substance use than boys, possibly due to the earlier maturation of girls. Because drug use behaviors in general are perceived as "adult" behaviors by adolescents, usage increases as peer group expectations of adult behaviors increase. These results suggest that sex and grade level strongly influence an individual's decision to use a particular substance. (NB)