NCJ Number
104833
Date Published
1987
Length
194 pages
Annotation
This 1986 survey of a representative sample of 10th, 11th, and 12th graders in 34 New Jersey public high schools examines the prevalence of drug and alcohol use, relevant student attitudes, and substance use patterns.
Abstract
With some modifications, the survey instrument is the same as that used in similar 1981 and 1984 surveys. It contains 133 questions pertaining to respondent demographic characteristics, the frequency of drug and alcohol use, and attitudes toward substance use. Survey data indicate the number of students using various substances and the frequency of use. Substances addressed in the survey are alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, hallucinogens, tranquilizers, barbiturates, heroin, inhalants, glue, and cough medicine. Prevalence and frequency data are cross-tabulated with demographic subgroups of respondents. The age of first use is reported for a number of substances, and students' drug and alcohol use is analyzed in relation to academic performance. Narrative interpretive summaries are provided for each data table. Student attitudes and substance use patterns pertain to preceived availability of substances, time and occasion of use, factors preventing substance use, perceived harmfulness of marijuana and alcohol, trouble resulting from substance use, the legality and morality of marijuana use, personal marijuana use in the future, and drinking and driving. Appendixes contain the survey instrument and methodological information.