NCJ Number
162954
Date Published
1995
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The 1994-95 survey of drug use by junior and senior high school students conducted by the National Parents' Resource Institute for Drug Education (PRIDE) revealed significant increases in cigarette and marijuana use by students in grades 6-12 and increases in cocaine and hallucinogen use by students in grades 9-12.
Abstract
Only 34 percent of the nearly 200,000 students surveyed said that their parents talk to them frequently about the dangers of drug use, a decline from 39 percent in 1991-92. Thirty-three percent said that their parents often do not set clear rules. Fifty percent reported that they are not disciplined routinely when they break the rules. However, the study revealed that parental involvement could significantly deter drug use, even among older adolescents. Thirty-four percent of the high school students whose parents often discuss drugs with them smoked marijuana, compared to 24 percent of those who said that their parents speak about drugs a lot. Forty-six percent of the 6th graders and 23 percent of the 12th graders reported that their parents discuss drugs often or a lot. Forty-four percent of high school students and 28 percent of students in grades 6-12 smoked a cigarette at least once in the past year. However, fewer students reported carrying a gun to school, joining a gang, making a threat at school, or being hurt while at school. Tables