Trend Analyses of Four Large-Scale Surveys of High School Drug Use 1977-1986

• NCJ Number: 118006
• Journal: Journal of Drug Education Volume: 18 Issue: 3 Dated: (1988) Pages: 221-233
• Author(s): P J Pascale; J Sylvester
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study analyzed trends for almost a decade of self-report drug survey data collected from high school students.

Abstract

Four large-scale surveys were conducted at 3-year intervals beginning in 1977. The four cohort samples consisted of eleventh grade students from area high schools in Northeast Ohio. Frequency of usage, reason for taking drugs, and perceived harmfulness of 14 categories of drugs are presented. Sex differences in drug use and perceived harmfulness are reported. It is important for researchers to be continuously vigilant in assessing the drug abuse problem since intervention and prevention strategies follow closely the sociodynamics of age, sex, knowledge of health risk factors, type of drug being used, and reason for taking drugs. The collection of trend data provides "benchmark" guides for interpreting single survey results. Wolford and Swisher have indicated that knowledge of trends is useful in planning and developing drug programs. (Author abstract modified)