National Survey on American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII

National Survey on American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII: Teens and Parents
The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), August 2007

Although this is CASA’s 12th annual back-to-school survey of substance abuse risk, it is the first time the survey has looked in depth at the drug situation in America’s High and Middle Schools.  The survey revealed that America’s High and Middle Schools are infested with drugs.

  • Eleven million high school students (80 percent) and five million middle school students (44 percent) attend drug-infested schools, meaning they have witnessed illegal drug use, illegal drug dealing, illegal drug possession, and students drunk and/or high on the grounds of the school.
  • At least once a week on their school grounds, 31 percent of high school students (more than four million) and nine percent of middle school students (more than one million) see illegal drugs used, sold, students high and/or students drunk.  At least weekly, 17 percent of all high and middle school students (4.4 million) personally see classmates high on drugs at school.
  • Since 2002 the proportion of students who attend schools where drugs are used, kept, or sold has jumped 39 percent for high school students and 63 percent for middle school students.  From 2006 to 2007 the proportion jumped 20 percent for high school students and 35 percent for middle school students.

Compared to teens in drug-free schools, teens at drug-infested schools are:

  • 16 times likelier to use an illegal drug other than marijuana or prescription drugs;
  • 15 times likelier to abuse prescription drugs;
  • five times likelier to use marijuana;
  • four times likelier to be able to buy marijuana within a day; and
  • nearly six times likelier to be able to buy marijuana within an hour.

Compared to popular teens in drug-free schools, popular teens in drug-infested schools are:

  • at least ten times likelier to abuse prescription drugs;
  • nine times likelier to use illegal drugs other than marijuana or prescription drugs and;
  • four and a half times likelier to use marijuana.

Parental attitudes impact teen behavior.  Teens are likelier to smoke, drink, and use drugs when their parents:

  • believe it is very likely that their child will try drugs in the future, and
  • do not take steps to limit what their child is exposed to in movies, television and music, or on the internet.

Only 11 percent of parents see drugs as their teen’s greatest concern, but twice as many teens (24 percent) say drugs are their greatest concern.

The survey also found that:

  • 59 percent of parents whose teens attend schools where drugs are used, kept, or sold believe the goal of making their child’s school drug free is unrealistic.
  • Compared to their teen using marijuana, 48 percent of parents would be more bothered if their teen had sex, 82 percent would be more bothered if their teen drove a car while intoxicated, and 52 percent would be more bothered if their teen shoplifted.
  • Almost 10 million 12- to 17- year olds (37 percent) say they can buy marijuana within a day, and 4.4 million (17 percent) can buy marijuana in an hour or less.

The full report can be found at http://www.casacolumbia.org