Patterns of marijuana and alcohol use attitudes for Pennsylvania 11th graders

For a 6-year period 30,000 11th graders in Pennsylvania public schools answered questions regarding their situational use of marijuana and the most popularly consumed beverage alcohol, beer. Comparing the item means for the survey responses between 1978 and 1983 supports other national data indicating a significant decline in the use of marijuana by high school students. A new finding is that 11th graders' willingness to drink beer with their friends has declined significantly, beginning in 1982, as has their willingness to drink and drive, beginning in about 1981. These changes may be related historically to the intensive public information and education efforts begun during the same time period.