The Concept of a Drug in First and Third Grade Children

Abstract

Short interviews were conducted with forty-eight first grade and thirty-seven third grade children in a public and a private school. All third grade children vs. 54 per cent of those in first grade had some concept of a drug. Of those having a concept, third graders tended to be aware of a wider range of drug effects and types. Boys reported more drug names than did girls in first grade. No other significant sex differences were found. Parents were most frequently mentioned as the source of drug knowledge with television next.