Numerous reviews and studies have documented high levels of substance use and abuse in the United States when compared to other developed nations. Previous research has identified several factors which place adolescents at risk for substance abuse. This study was designed to replicate and validate some of these risk factors with youth from rural communities. Participants (N=5,435) were students in grades 7-12 from 31 schools in north central Idaho. Information was collected through use of a questionnaire which assessed demographic information, attitudes towards drugs and their usage, perception of community use levels, basic knowledge about drugs, and nine other selected risk factors. These risk factors included alcohol use at an early age, low educational achievement, low religious commitment, perceived levels of adult and peer drug use, perceived parental and peer approval of drug use, limited educational plans, and reported school attendance. The nine risk factors were found to be significantly related to drug use for the adolescents. Parental failure to communicate strong disapproval of drug usage had the strongest relationship with reported levels of drug usage, closely followed by peer approval as a predictor. As the number of risk factors adolescents possesses increased, they were more likely to report drug use. One potential way for communities to deal with adolescent drug abuse is to reduce the number of risk factors present in their youth. (ABL)