NCJ Number
166034
Date Published
1983
Length
85 pages
Annotation
A fall 1982 survey gathered information on juvenile drug use in Maryland.
Abstract
The research used a sampling plan similar to the one used in 1978 and 1980 and gathered information from 18 of the State's 24 subdivisions. The survey was self-administered in large group settings in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. Results were used to develop statewide estimates. Results revealed that drug abuse among these youths declined gradually between 1978, 1980, and 1982. However, the severity of the problem remains. Major findings included an upward trend among adolescents of all ages in the current use of a wide variety of individual drugs, an increase in the percentage of frequent users of most individual drugs, and an increasing trend in the average number of drugs per user. Thus, while fewer adolescents report current use of any drug in 1982 as compared with 1978 and 1980, those who are current users are involved with a broader range of drugs. These drug use patterns are consistent with nationwide trends. In addition, adolescents reporting failing grade averages in school reported greater percentages of current drug use than did those reporting excellent grades; adolescents with greater amounts of weekly spending money reported greater percentages of current drug use than did those with less available funds. Finally, adolescents reporting frequent use of any drug were more likely than others to report experiencing drug-related problems. Tables, figures, footnotes, and appended instrument and weighting factors for each jurisdiction