NCJ Number
130555
Date Published
1991
Length
51 pages
Annotation
This document examines the current status of teen drug use, pregnancy, and dropping out of school. Data were gathered on trends in teen drug use since 1979, teen pregnancy since 1972, and dropping out of high school from 1978 and earlier.
Abstract
Teens self-reported slightly less drug use in 1988 than in 1979. Teen pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates remain relatively stable. There has been a steady decrease in the high school dropout rate during this period. Little evidence was shown that trends in the three youth problems -- drug use, pregnancy, and dropping out of school -- are increasing. However, there are weaknesses of research on youth problems studied in isolation. The need for stronger and more up-to-date knowledge about youth problems suggests that new research on teen risk behavior should attempt to answer questions about constellations of problem behaviors rather than one or two behaviors in isolation.