NCJ Number
126862
Journal
International Journal of the Addictions Volume: 25 Issue: 3 Dated: (1990) Pages: 301-305
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
A survey completed by 5,454 students in grades 6 through 12 in 27 communities in western Canada and the North West Territories in 1987 and 1988 gathered information on the nature and extent of student drug use.
Abstract
The survey used the Drug Prevalence Questionnaire developed by the parent group PRIDE Canada Inc. The questionnaire's 10 parts covered personal and family information, student characteristics, drug use, and attitudes toward alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs. Findings showed that alcohol use ranged from lows of 49.2 percent of students for beer, 44.2 percent for wine, and 35.6 percent for liquor in one community to highs of 87 percent for beer, 81 percent for wine, and 62 percent for liquor in another community. The first use of alcohol occurred between ages 12 and 13 for most students. Daily cigarette and marijuana use within the previous 12 months were considerably lower than in previous reports. In addition, many students did not know if the drugs were harmful to their health. The questionnaire has proved beneficial in motivating parents to form community groups to address the drug problem. Tables and 5 references