NCJ Number
117307
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 16 Issue: 4 Dated: (1986) Pages: 305-326
Date Published
1986
Length
22 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between behavioral intention to use drugs and self-reported drug use.
Abstract
The subjects were 9,403 seventh though twelfth grade students in catholic, rural, small town, suburban, and urban schools in Pennsylvania. All subjects completed a questionnaire that assessed a variety of behaviors, such as intention to use drugs, feelings about teachers and classmates, and time spent in academic or extracurricular activities. The results indicate that across all schools the only independent variable that was consistently and significantly related to the self-reported use of all substances tested was behavioral intention. In all cases, as intention to use increased, so did the self-reported use of cigarettes, beer, wine, liquor, marijuana, inhalants, PCP, depressants, hallucinogens, and stimulants. With few exceptions, grade level was also highly correlated with self-reported drug use. In all cases where significant relationships were revealed, as grade level increased so did reported drug use. The impact of the amount of time a student spent in academic pursuits and grade average also tended to relate to the self-reported use of various drugs. Across all schools this analysis revealed that the more time a student spent on academics, and the higher the grade average, the less drug use was likely to be reported. Assessing the behavioral intentions of students serves as an alternative approach to measurement of substance use and abuse and has useful implications for program planning. 6 tables and 19 references. (Author abstract modified)