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|
2003 Safe & Drug-Free
Schools Report -
Illegal Drugs
|
|
While
types of illegal drugs were not specified in the question, it
seems clear from the patterns of results that students do separate
drugs from pot, which is also, of course, an illegal substance.
Use of drugs is less prevalent than pot, yet still common
among a minority of students in the eighth and tenth grades.
|
Safe & Drug-Free Schools Report Table of Contents |
|
Overview
Highlights |
|
School Safety
Research Findings:
Smoking
Smokeless Tobacco
Pot
Illegal Drugs
Huffing and Sniffing
Alcohol |
|
I
use illegal drugs . . .
|
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
|
99% |
91% |
82% |
|
|
A few times a year |
1% |
5% |
8% |
|
|
1-2 times a month |
0% |
2% |
3% |
|
|
1-2 times a week |
0% |
1% |
2% |
|
|
Every day |
0% |
1% |
5% |
|
|
|
As with
pot and tobacco, those older students who use drugs likely started
in middle school.
|
|
I started using drugs... |
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
Never |
99% |
91% |
79% |
|
1 year ago |
1% |
5% |
8% |
|
2-3 years ago (5th grade only) |
0% |
2% |
8% |
|
3+ years ago (5th grade only) |
0% |
-- |
-- |
|
4+ years ago |
-- |
2% |
5% |
Most
students seem to understand that illegal drugs are dangerous.
Only 2% of eighth and tenth graders report drugs are
“very safe.”
|
|
I think using drugs is... |
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
Very dangerous |
96% |
88% |
79% |
Kinda
dangerous |
2% |
8% |
15% |
|
Pretty safe |
0% |
1% |
3% |
|
Very safe |
1% |
2% |
2% |
As in other
risky practices, there is an impression among older students that a
large number of their peers use drugs.
|
|
In my grade... |
5th
Grade |
8th
Grade |
10th
Grade |
|
|
All kids use drugs |
2% |
4% |
5% |
|
|
Most kids use drugs |
1% |
6% |
35% |
|
|
Some kids use drugs |
5% |
41% |
49% |
|
|
Hardy any kids use drugs |
90% |
48% |
10% |
|
|
Experiences
with liquor appear to be somewhat less than those with beer and
wine. About six of 10
tenth graders report they never drink liquor, compared to 45% who
say they never drink beer or wine.
|
|
I drink liquor... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
Never |
98% |
84% |
61% |
|
A few times |
1% |
10% |
20% |
|
1-2 times a month |
0% |
3% |
13% |
|
1-2 times a week |
0% |
2% |
5% |
|
Every day |
0% |
1% |
1% |
Notable
percentages of eighth graders (15%) and tenth graders (38%) have
consumed liquor at some point. |
|
I started drinking liquor... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
Never |
98% |
83% |
60% |
|
|
1 year ago |
1% |
8% |
16% |
|
|
2-3 years ago (2 year for 5th Graders) |
0% |
5% |
16% |
|
3 + years ago
(5th Graders only) |
1% |
-- |
-- |
|
|
4 or more years ago |
-- |
3% |
6% |
|
|
More
students see liquor as “very dangerous” than beer and wine.
|
|
I think liquor is... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
Very dangerous |
81% |
58% |
28% |
|
|
Kinda dangerous |
18% |
31% |
49% |
|
|
Pretty safe |
1% |
7% |
12% |
|
|
Very safe |
1% |
3% |
2% |
|
|
Again,
eighth and tenth graders perceive consumption of liquor, at least
at some level, is high among peers in their grades.
The rate of fifth graders who perceive liquor consumption
in their grades is about half of those who perceive use of beer
and/or wine.
|
|
In my grade... |
5th Grade |
8th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
|
All kids drink liquor |
2% |
4% |
7% |
|
|
Most kids drink liquor |
1% |
9% |
38% |
|
|
Some kids drink liquor |
3% |
44% |
45% |
|
|
Hardly any kids drink liquor |
92% |
42% |
11% |
|
