Drug use and its relation to high school students' activities

In a high school in a suburb of Detroit, students' attitudes toward, use of, and money spent on drugs, as well as possible alternative activities, were investigated. The sample included 42 enrolled in alternative education designed for students at risk for drug abuse, pregnancy, etc., who might attend college if guided carefully, and 65 regular students who were a mix of college and noncollege bound. The two groups did not differ in actual drug use, most likely because those who recommended students to the alternative education program used low grade point average and not drug use as criterion. Very few "hard" drugs were used. Most frequently used were readily available drugs such as alcohol. Use of a drug, spending money on it, or believing that it is all right for adolescents to use the drug did not automatically indicate frequent use of the drug. Contrary to adults' expectations, "hangin' out" with peers decreased use of "soft" drugs. Family activities for some involved the use of hard drugs together or the condoning of use. To create effective drug-prevention programs, the effects of different activities need to be explored further, and admission criteria need to be well delineated.