Sources of drug information and drug use behavior among adolescent students in Region VI, Texas

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to determine sources of drug information as well as the scope of the drug use problem among adolescent students in Texas Education Agency (TEA) Region VI. Furthermore, the intent was to compare 8th and 10th grade students with regard to their sources of drug information, and with regard to their prevalence and frequency of drug use behavior. Procedure. This study was a descriptive-comparative research project. The subjects were 1023 eighth and tenth grade students who were asked to complete a two-part self-administered questionnaire. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Z-Score Test of proportions were used to analyze the data. Results. 1) Television, parents, magazines, friends, and teachers were the most frequently cited sources of providing much or a great amount of drug information. Church, doctors, and police were frequently cited as providing little or no information. 2) Eighth graders reported receiving more information than 10th graders from doctors, teachers, parents, police, and TV. Tenth graders, on the other hand, reported receiving more information from their friends than did 8th graders. 3) With the exception of alcoholic beverages, 8th graders reported receiving more information than 10th graders about all other categories of drugs. 4) Inhalants and marijuana were reported as the most widely used illicit drugs among students. Conclusions. Based on the data analyses and within the limitations of this study, the following conclusions were made: First, TV is a major source of drag information in all categories of drags for adolescent students. Younger students rely on conventional sources such as parents and teachers for drag information. Older students, on the other hand, rely on their friends for their drag information. In general, 8th grade students report receiving more information about drags than do 10th graders. Second, drag use is a problem among adolescent students in this region with alcohol, inhalants and marijuana being reported as the most widely used drags. Prevalence of drug use is higher among older students than among younger students. Tenth graders are using drugs such as alcohol and marijuana more frequently than 8th graders.