Extent and Prevalence of Illicit Drug Use as Reported by 56,745 Students

A survey of all junior and senior high students in the nation's tenth largest public school system revealed that 28% reported experimentation with an illicit drug, 8% reported use more than ten times, and 4% reported frequent current use. Of 61 drugs, alcohol, tobacco, glue, marihuana, solvent inhalants, and nonprescription stimulants were most commonly reported. Boys reported more use than girls, upper class students more than lower. Peers were most often the source. The survey appears to reflect high levels of reliability and validity for an approach of this kind. Two repetitions of the survey are planned in the 1970 to 1971 school year.