NCJ Number
142580
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 23 Issue: 1 Dated: (1993) Pages: 105-116
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
The results of a large drug abuse survey of high school students were examined in the context of the baseline data provided by four previous surveys.
Abstract
These surveys were conducted at 3-year intervals beginning in 1977. Each cohort group contained approximately 2,000 students in 11th grade from the same 15 high schools from four counties in northeast Ohio. The most recent survey contained self-report data from 2,000 students representing 15 schools in northeast Ohio. The instrument provided data on 14 categories of drugs. Findings revealed that females reported higher use of aspirin, amphetamines, and barbiturates than males in the 1989 survey. Females also indicated a larger increase in coffee drinking since the 1986 survey and, for the first time, reported a higher frequency of marijuana use than males, although the difference was not statistically significant. Males reported higher usage in most drug categories, especially alcohol, inhalants, and smokeless tobacco. Results revealed no gender differences in the reasons students gave for using drugs. Both genders reported curiosity as the main reason for using drugs, followed by relaxation. Tables and 11 references (Author abstract modified)