What can be a result of consistently hanging around with individuals who engage in substance use?

Consistently spending time with individuals who engage in substance use can significantly influence your own behavior and choices. This phenomenon is often linked to social pressures and the desire to fit in with a certain group. Being around people who actively use substances may normalize that behavior and can lead to increased curiosity or experimentation. Over time, the likelihood of adopting similar habits grows, as peer influence plays a crucial role in shaping attitudes toward substance use.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the potential impacts of such social interactions. Increased performance and improved reputation are outcomes that are generally not associated with associating with substance-using individuals; engaging in such activities usually detracts from personal and academic achievements. Additionally, the notion that interacting with substance users has no effect is misleading, as it downplays the strong evidence linking peer behavior to individual actions. Thus, the correlation between peer substance use and one's likelihood to engage in similar behaviors is well-documented.