NCJ Number
147225
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 14 Issue: 3 Dated: (1984) Pages: 207-225
Date Published
1984
Length
19 pages
Annotation
A sample of 1,020 youths attending an inner-city junior high school were interviewed concerning their use or nonuse of drugs, controlling for a number of sociocultural, lifestyle, and prevention programming variables.
Abstract
Populations of nonusers, users of alcohol, and users of alcohol and marijuana were identified among the sample. Each group contained both individuals who felt they were at risk as well as those who expressed no particular perception of risk. Separate subcultures for each of the three groups were identified. Users of both drugs and alcohol were more strongly immersed in the street culture than were users of alcohol only, who in turn were more immersed than nonusers. The same pattern was seen for the status assigned to drug-using gang- involved peers and the extent to which their friends used alcohol and drugs. Most topics -- including how to avoid using drugs, how drugs affect the mind, how drugs can harm the family, alternatives to drug use, and legal penalties -- were felt to be appropriate for drug use prevention programs. 4 tables, 1 figure, and 26 references