NCJ Number
128693
Journal
Journal of Drug Education Volume: 20 Issue: 4 Dated: (1990) Pages: 289-303
Date Published
1990
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study explores the relationship between juvenile substance abuse, current academic performance, and long-term academic goals of 446 Anglo and Hispanic youths in Ventura County, California. It contrasts drug users with abstainers and discusses the impact of gender and age.
Abstract
Non-users report higher overall grades, fewer absences and cut classes, higher academic aspirations, more interests in school work, and stronger feelings of its importance. No differences were found between users and abstainers in school work load or probability of dropping out of school. Girls indicated more homework, more frequent absences, and greater boredom in class than boys. Although boys and girls showed equal educational aspirations, the boys and their parents had higher expectations than the girls and their parents. Anglos reported higher grades, more homework, fewer absences, greater boredom, and higher personal and parental educational goals than Hispanics. Overall the results agree with previous research in that they indicate a significant relationship between current school performance, future educational goals, and drug use. In addition, the results indicate that gender and ethnicity are significantly related to student performance and long term goals and that substance abuse and school performance are differentially related to age, ethnicity, and gender. 2 tables and 29 references