Three Year Follow-up Drug Survey of High School Youth in a Typical Georgia School

Abstract

This is the third survey undertaken to assess changes in knowledge and attitudes concerning drugs among students from a Columbus, Georgia, high school. Survey results were contrasted to the 1971 and 1974 studies. In addition, the same population was polled on actual drug usage. The results revealed that 56 per cent of the student body possessed knowledge of the drug culture. However, there was a continuing reduction in awareness from the previous surveys, with one exception, marijuana. A major finding of the study was that only 3 per cent of the students had tried hard drugs and none were regular users. Seventy-nine per cent of the students reported having tried alcohol with 3 per cent being regular users, while 52 per cent reported having tried marijuana with 7 per cent being regular users. The survey also indicated that 25 per cent of the students smoke cigarettes daily. The survey tends to show a continued softening of youth attitudes toward authority, a desire for a course in drug education, a drop in use of hard drugs, but an increase in student use of marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes.