NCJ Number
205696
Date Published
April 2002
Length
86 pages
Annotation
Based on responses by Ohio fourth grade students (n=51,631) to the PRIDE Surveys Questionnaire in 2002, this report presents data on the prevalence and patterns of students' drug and alcohol use.
Abstract
Of the total number of students, 2.2 percent reported they had used cigarettes within the past year, compared with a national average of 2.5 percent for this age group; and 1.1 percent indicated they had used chewing tobacco or snuff, the same as the national average. Within the past year, 5.4 percent of the fourth graders had consumed beer (national average of 6.1 percent); 5.6 percent had consumed wine coolers (national average of 6.4 percent); and 1.7 percent had consumed liquor (national average of 2.1 percent). Marijuana had been used by 0.5 percent of the fourth graders within the past year, compared with a national average of 0.7 percent. Within the past year, 2.9 percent of the fourth graders reported they had used inhalants, compared with a national average of 4 percent. Advice is offered to parents, teachers, and concerned citizens about how they can help to reduce the prevalence of drug and alcohol use by children and youth. They are advised to educate themselves and their families about the health hazards of drugs and insist that children and youth not consume any illegal drugs, including alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana. Support should be given for drug education in the schools, workplace, churches, and civic associations. Further, respect should be cultivated among children and youth for the laws pertinent to the use of alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs. In addition, accountability should apply to the illegal consumer as well as the illegal supplier of alcohol and other drugs. Finally, drug law enforcement efforts should be supported at home and internationally. Extensive tables and figures