Who Receives Drug Education in Our Schools?: A Paradox

Abstract

Data from a national survey by the United States Department of Justice of 47,000 households reveals a paradox regarding who receives drug education in primary and secondary schools. Those who would seem to need it the most are least likely to receive it. Thus, blacks receive drug education classes less often than whites, students in central city classes less often than those in other regions, and students who report that drugs are available are also less likely to receive drug education classes than students who report that drugs are not available. The results are paradoxical, but consistent with a study by Denson, Voight, and Eisenman which found that predominantly black schools in Louisiana provided less AIDS education than predominantly white schools [1].