Drug abuse, or substance abuse, is a substantial public health problem in the United States, particularly among high school students. The purpose of this article was to review school-based programs implemented in high schools for substance abuse prevention and to suggest recommendations for future interventions. Included were English language…

This case study examines not only the prevalence of substance abuse in one rural, Canadian high school, but also how teachers understand teaching and learning in relation to substance abuse. Over one third of students reported that they had used marijuana (37%) and alcohol (38%) in the last seven days, a rate considerably higher than typical…

Social capital theory suggests that assets inherent in social relations may be used to enhance outcomes for individuals and that youth with increased access to social capital may be less likely to exhibit social and behavioral difficulties. The purpose of this secondary data analysis was to examine the relationship between social capital and…

The purpose of this study was to provide a descriptive profile of the alcohol, cigarette, marijuana and cocaine use practices among adolescents and to examine the relationship between employment, political beliefs, religious beliefs and substance use behaviors among high school seniors participating in the Monitoring the Future Study during the…

Longitudinal study of Israeli adolescents' (N=1,900) substance use found that use increased as a function of positive attitudes toward substances, use, and users; positive attitudes ascribed to peers and parents; peers' and parents' use of alcohol and drugs; personality variables; and availability of drugs at home and in the community. Describes…

Examined perceptions of students on communication skills and self-management strategies as initial database for substance abuse program planning and evaluation at one high school. Found significant differences between the interpersonal communication scores and the variables of age, sex, and grade levels, and student participation in the substance…

Reports results of comparing two screening instruments designed to identify youth with substance use problems. For one out of five youths, the two instruments gave different diagnoses. The instruments do not predict adolescent problems or substance use over time substantially better than a simpler measure of the frequency of substance use. (LKS)

Surveyed 528 high school teachers to evaluate adolescent substance-abuse prevention/intervention program. Found that Project Impact was successful in achieving goals; findings suggest greater self-efficacy in trained teachers compared to non-Impact trained teachers. Trained teachers were significantly more likely to have provided drug education to…

Conducted four focus group interviews with parents of high school students. Results indicated low levels of awareness of extent of teenage drinking; low levels of parental control over teenage drinking; feelings of detachment from other parents; considerable receptivity to receiving training in substance abuse issues; and feelings of resistance to…

Examined relationships among depression, meaninglessness, suicide ideation, and substance abuse among 48 high school students and 113 adolescent psychiatric inpatients. Correlational analyses indicated that high school students who viewed themselves negatively, were depressed, or who had found little meaning in their lives were more likely to…