NCJ Number
162475
Date Published
1995
Length
99 pages
Annotation
National surveys of youth and adults gathered information on their attitudes toward drugs and drug abuse.
Abstract
Information was collected by means of interviews with random samples of 2,000 adults and 400 youths ages 12-17. Two groups of parents and one group of students also took part in focus groups. Results revealed that youth perceive drugs as the most important problem youth experience. Sixty- two percent of 12th graders have a friend who uses marijuana, and 58 percent of 12th graders have been offered marijuana. Forty-two percent of adults and 54 percent of youths know of someone close to them who is using illegal drugs. Most participants agreed that illegal drug use begins before age 19. Demographic factors do not predict risk. Predictors of risk include academic performance, religious activism, whether the youth expects to have the same economic opportunities as the parents, active parental involvement and guidance in a child's life, and attitudes toward marijuana. Findings also indicated that the risk of exposure to illegal drugs increases sharply in the 11th and 12th grades, that many parents are ambivalent about marijuana. Findings indicated that half of youth are at risk of drug abuse, that current efforts to address the problem are inadequate, and that additional actions are needed. Figures and detailed responses to individual survey questions