Investigating the Effects of Family, Peer, and School Domains on Postdropout Drug Use

• NCJ Number: 215861
• Journal: Youth & Society Volume: 37 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2006 Pages: 316-347
• Author(s): Laurie A. Drapela
• Date Published: March 2006
• Length: 32 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study explored the effects of family, peer, and school factors on post-high school dropout drug use.

Abstract

Overall, the results revealed that problem school behavior prior to dropout significantly predicted post-dropout drug use. This finding suggests that dropping out of high school and subsequent drug use may both be caused by negative experiences in school. Indeed, problem school behavior had as much of an effect on current drug use levels as did deviant peers, weak social bonds, negative environmental stimuli, demographic factors, prior drug use, and prior anti-social behavior. When dropouts alone were analyzed, three factors emerged that served to intensify dropouts’ drug use even when the protective factors of marital status and job stability were considered: school problems, early drug use, and deviant peers. The findings support previous research on the persistence of deviant behavior over time and refute the notion that social bonds such as marriage and stable employment can effectively alter drug use patterns. Data were drawn from the 1988 National Education Longitudinal Study that followed a nationally representative sample of eighth graders through the year 2000, focusing on the effects of demographic, academic, and school factors on student educational and behavioral outcomes. The sample under analysis here included 10,678 respondents who answered survey questions in 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994, and 2000. Questions focused on drug use, school status (dropout or not), social bonds, perceptions of teachers, parental relations, peer relations, negative life events, school problems, and anti-social behavior. Data analysis techniques included the use of ordinary least squares to estimate all regression models. Given that the findings support a control theory interpretation of school dropout, future research should focus on identifying the weakened social bonds that may lead to youth drug use in the first place. Tables, notes, references