Which determinant includes smoking, alcohol, marijuana, and drug consumption as examples of social norms?

• A. Social Norms
• B. Beliefs
• C. Economy
• D. Politics

Answer: (A)

The main idea this question tests is how social norms shape health-related behavior. Social norms are the shared expectations and acceptability of actions within a group. When smoking, alcohol use, marijuana, and other drugs are seen as normal or approved in a community, people feel pressure to conform to that behavior, driven by what they think others are doing or approving. This makes substance use a classic example of how social context can steer individual choices, beyond personal beliefs or policies.

Beliefs involve what a person thinks is true or right, and while they influence decisions, they’re not the same as the collective standards about what is acceptable behavior. The economy concerns resources and access, which affect whether someone can obtain substances, but not the social approval or normalization of using them. Politics deals with laws and governance, shaping restrictions and policies, not the everyday social expectations that encourage or discourage use.