Differences between residential and commuter first-year male college students were examined with respect to students' perceptions of the parent-child relationship and its influence on students' use of alcohol and marijuana. Fifty residential and 57 commuter students completed questionnaires to assess their perceptions of parenting and the frequency of their use of alcohol and marijuana. Differences were identified between the two samples of students with respect to perceived parenting and substance use, and the influence of that parenting. Perceived parental monitoring was related to less frequent alcohol and marijuana use among commuter students, but unrelated to use among residential students.