PRIDE Finds Drug Use Among Schoolchildren Rising

DRUG USE TRENDS December 1994

The Parent's Resource Institute on Drug Education (PRIDE) released its annual survey Oct. 20 finding that for the third consecutive year drug use is rising among the nation's school-age children. The report, covering the 1993-1994 school year, finds that children who were using drugs were more likely to be involved in violence against other children or adults, to join a gang, and to carry a gun to school.

Of note in the survey's findings was a jump in marijuana use among African-American males. Junior high black males (mostly ages 11 to 14) reporting using marijuana sometime in the past year rose from 7.7% in 1992-1993 to 13.3% in 1993-1994. Senior high black males (mostly ages 14 to 18) reporting use rose from 19% to 29.1% for the same time periods. For all students, marijuana use at least once in the past year was up from 19% to 24.6% for those school years.

"Marijuana is leading a new wave of adolescent involvement in dangerous drugs," said PRIDE President Thomas Gleaton. "This is a double whammy. More kids are using a drug that is increasingly potent."

Among the other findings:

• The reported rates of use for all illegal drugs rose significantly for junior and senior high school students. The greatest increase in rates was found for marijuana, cocaine, and inhalants.
  
  
• The number reporting smoking cigarettes rose for junior and senior high students.
  
  
• Those who reported involvement in violence against self or other were more likely to report drug use: those who carried a gun to school were 14.5 times more likely to use cocaine, for example.

The survey polled 197,735 students in the sixth through twelfth grades in 34 states.

Gleaton said that effective prevention measures are now known, citing involvement in school, involvement in community, and parental attachment as effective deterrents to drug use.

To obtain a copy of this report, contact PRIDE at 10 Park Place South, Suite 340, Atlanta, GA 30303, 404-577-4500. There is a $25 charge for the 44-page report. PRIDE asks that you give your name, the name of your organization, address, phone, fax, and type of company in any correspondence.