Substance Use & Abuse

Students cited involvement with drugs and alcohol as the third major factor contributing to school violence. Those who reported the availability of drugs in school did not vary significantly by ethnicity, level of family income, or geographic location (U.S. Department of Justice, 1991). Although reports indicate that the use of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, marijuana, and crack is down among students in grades 6-12, the consumption of alcohol is not. Alcohol is the number one drug used by teenagers and young adults.