NCJ Number
52525
Date Published
1976
Length
140 pages
Annotation
IN 1972, 95 PERCENT OF THE STUDENT BODY OF A SMALL, PRIVATE, LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE ON THE WEST COAST OF THE UNITED STATES RESPONDED TO A SURVEY ON STUDENT DRUG USE.
Abstract
AT THE TIME OF THIS SURVEY APPROXIMATELY 1000 STUDENTS WERE ENROLLED AT IVY COLLEGE. THE SURVEY WAS COMPRISED OF AN EXTENSIVE QUESTIONNAIRE AND 53 PERSONAL INTERVIEWS. THE QUESTIONNAIRE WAS DESIGNED TO ELICIT INFORMATION ABOUT THE STUDENT'S OVERT CULTURE (HIS PERSONAL USE OF DRUGS), COVERT CULTURE (HIS ATTITUDE'S, BELIEFS, AND OPINIONS), PERCEIVED CULTURE (HIS PERCEPTIONS OF HIS HOME AND PEER DRUG ENVIRONMENTS), AND A DOZEN DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES. THE INTERVIEWS WERE DESIGNED TO OBTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE HISTORY OF DRUG USE AT THE COLLEGE AS WELL AS DETAILED INFORMATION ABOUT THE CURRENT DRUG SCENE. THE DATA DERIVED FROM THE SURVEY INDICATE THAT THE USE OF ILLEGAL DRUGS ROSE STEADILY FROM 1967 TO 1972, EXCEPT FOR LSD USE WHICH PEAKED IN 1969 AND WHICH HAS DECLINED SOMEWHAT. DRUG USE AT THE COLLEGE DOES NOT APPEAR AS HIGH AS PREDICTIONS DERIVED FROM NATIONAL SURVEYS WOULD INDICATE. THE REASONS EXPLAINING WHY THIS SHOULD BE THE CASE ARE DISCUSSED IN DETAIL. A COMPREHENSIVE SUMMARY AND DISCUSSION OF EARLIER SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF COLLEGE STUDENT DRUG USE AND AN EXTENSIVE LIST OF REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (MPK)