Drag Use in Rural Communities: An Epidemiology

SUMMARY Data comparing smaller rural towns, larger rural towns, and urban communities were obtained using The American Drag and Alcohol Survey. There were some significant differences among communities at the 8th-grade level, with smaller towns showing lower rates of use of some drugs. The differences were small, however, and suggest that living in a smaller town offers only slight protection against drag use for younger children. Although males have a slightly higher probability of using drugs, there were no gender by size of community interactions. Most of the differences in drug use by community size were no longer present by the time rural youth reached the 12th grade. Ten to fifteen years ago rural youth were less likely to be drag involved, but those differences have now disappeared. Substance use may have different implications for rural youth, however, as they need to drive more often and to drive greater distances and as resources for prevention and treatment are likely to be limited.