Patterns of Drug Use Among Mexican-American Potential School Dropouts (From Drug Abuse: Foundation for a Psychosocial Approach, P 152-161, 1984, Seymour Eiseman, Joseph A Wingard, et al, eds. - See NCJ-169972)

• NCJ Number: 169985
• Author(s): J E Bruno; L Doscher
• Date Published: 1984
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: Baywood Publishing Co, Inc.
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DCC

Annotation

The extent and patterns of drug use and attitudes were investigated in a sample of primarily Mexican-American high school students identified as potential dropouts.

Abstract

The sample included 78 students in grades 9 through 12 in a metropolitan school district who had been identified by school officials as potential dropouts because of truancy and other academic and family background variables. They were asked to complete a written questionnaire on drug use and related attitudes in 1975. Descriptive analysis showed that drug use was widespread and that marijuana was used about the same number of students as cigarettes and hard alcohol. Students did not believe that general drug use caused social problems but that heavy drug use could cause school problems. Results tentatively suggest that particular emphasis on drug education programs should be directed to including or reaching potential school dropouts who may be chronically absent or truant and that drug education programs may require different content emphases for girls and boys. 10 references, 4 tables, and 1 figure