Final answer:
The relationship between the use of alcohol and illicit drugs is positively correlated, meaning they tend to occur together, and a correlation coefficient near 0 would indicate a weak relationship between two variables.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statistical relationship between the use of alcohol and the use of illicit drugs is known to be positive. This means that individuals who consume alcohol are more likely to use illicit drugs compared to those who do not drink. This positive correlation indicates that there is a tendency for the two behaviors to occur together; however, it is important to note that correlation does not necessarily imply causation. The correlation coefficient, which measures the strength of a statistical relationship, indicates the weakest relationship when it is closest to 0. This means that a correlation coefficient close to +1 or -1 implies a strong positive or negative relationship, respectively, while a correlation coefficient close to 0 indicates little to no linear relationship between the variables.