Since the late 1960s, evaluators have examined the use of school-based alcohol and drug education programs as a means of substance abuse prevention. Narrative reviews of these evaluations agree on two points. The evaluations are generally of poor quality and they do not provide evidence that substance abuse education reduces drug use. This study used meta-analysis to review a carefully selected sample of evaluations in this area. Outcomes of thirty-three evaluations were statistically integrated. The meta-analysis showed that typical substance abuse education had its most positive effects on knowledge and attitudes, but was unsuccessful in changing the drug-using behaviors of students. Attitudinal effects were significantly higher when peers were used as instructional leaders and when group discussion was part of the instructional method. Furthermore, students who volunteered for substance abuse education reported lower drug use after treatment than did students who were required to participate in such pr...

The Effects of School-Based Substance Abuse Education — A Meta-Analysis:

Outcome studies of the effectiveness of drug and alcohol education programs are reviewed. Studies were examined that dealt with student populations as well as adult programs. In addition, specific ...

Drug and alcohol education programs: a review of outcome studies.

This study describes the distribution, nature, pattern, and magnitude of sex differences in self-report delinquency. A national probability sample of 1725 youths, ages 11-17, was interviewed using a comprehensive measure of self-report delinquency including serious and violent crimes. Major findings include (1) small but consistent sex differences in numerous delinquent behaviors and in most types of delinquent behavior due to higher offense frequencies of males and greater numbers of male offenders, (2) generally similar patterns of male and female delinquency (r = .82), (3) sex differences in the proportion of high-frequency offenders, (4) few interaction effects of sex with other demographic variables, and (5) stable sex differences in certain delinquent acts across a decade.

Sex Differences in Self‐Report Delinquency

The adolescent marijuana literature is reviewed. Studies show that the prevalence of marijuana use is generally quite low in elementary schools. In junior and senior high samples, findings vary greatly from place to place. The prevalence of use increased dramatically during the 1970s although the use patterns may have peaked already in some areas. The use of marijuana increases with age, but some evidence suggests that a slight drop-off in use occurs near the end of high school. Female use seems to be increasing more than male use. Use seems to be somewhat more prevalent in middle- and upper-middle-class homes and in broken homes. Mixed support has been found for the hypothesis that marijuana users have parents that are more permissive. Parents of marijuana users are generally characterized as being less warm and supportive, and more inclined toward the use of drugs themselves. Peer and sibling use of marijuana seem to be particularly important predictors of adolescent marijuana use. Findings on personali...

Adolescent marijuana use: a review.

The literature on solvent abuse is reviewed. Methods of use, symptoms of use, and effects of long-term solvent abuse are discussed. Several surveys on solvent use are summarized. The highest prevalence of solvent abuse seems to occur in native peoples undergoing periods of cultural change. Environmental conditions which are postulated as leading to psychological vulnerability and solvent abuse include: low social assets, parental drug use, peer and sibling influence, and acculturative stress. Solvent abuse seems to provide a pharmacological way out of a stressful environment for people who feel helpless to improve their situation in other ways. Methods of intervention that have been proposed for dealing with solvent abuse are discussed. Methods of intervention thus far employed generally have not been evaluated in any systematic fashion. Suggestions for future research are provided.

Solvent Abuse: A Review

(1972). Self-Medication: An Only Child Syndrome? Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 5, Drug Abuse 1972, pp. 62-66.

Self-Medication: An Only Child Syndrome?

Drugs in the Junior High School, Part II

An upward trend of psychoactive drug use within the lower grade levels was observed among 616 high school students. Although different patterns of drug use exist between parochial and public high school sophomores, by their junior year the two groups were similar. Over half of the public high school students claimed they take drugs either “for kicks” or “for curiosity”.

Drugs in the High School.

The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of differences in the use of certain psychoactive drugs among students who enrolled for an elective drug abuse course and students not en...

Drug Use by Students of Drug Abuse

(1971). The Cost of Heroin to the Addict and the Community. Journal of Psychedelic Drugs: Vol. 4, The Contemporary Heroin Scene, Part I: The Problem, pp. 99-103.

Ronald L. Linder

Papers

Self-Medication: An Only Child Syndrome?

Drugs in the Junior High School, Part II

Drugs in the High School.

Drug Use by Students of Drug Abuse

The Cost of Heroin to the Addict and the Community