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How substance use differs among American secondary schools
Patrick M O'Malley1, Lloyd D Johnston, Jerald G Bachman
1The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1248, USA. pomalley@umich.edu
Summary
Student drug use varies more within schools than between them. However, school characteristics like type, socioeconomic status, and race significantly impact student substance use rates across different grades.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Education
Background:
- Student substance use is a persistent public health concern.
- Understanding variations in drug use among schools is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the variance in student drug use within and between American secondary schools.
- To investigate how school characteristics influence student substance use patterns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of nationally representative data from the Monitoring the Future project (1991-2002).
- Inclusion of 8th, 10th, and 12th-grade students across diverse school types.
- Statistical examination of school characteristics (type, SES, race/ethnicity, size) and their correlation with substance use.
Main Results:
- Most drug use variance occurs within schools, not between them.
- Significant differences in substance use exist based on school type (public vs. private, Catholic schools), socioeconomic status (SES), and racial/ethnic composition.
- Public school students (8th/10th grade) show higher smoking rates; 12th graders in Catholic schools show higher risk for certain substances. SES association shifts from negative to non-significant/positive from 8th to 12th grade. Majority African American schools report lowest use rates.
Conclusions:
- While individual behavior dominates, school environment plays a significant role in student substance use.
- Interventions should consider school-specific factors, including demographics and school type, to effectively address student drug use.
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