A Comparison of Attitudes of Parents and High School Senior Students Regarding Cigarette,Alcohol and Drug Use

Abstract

PTA membership in two suburban schools (a high school and combined junior high schools) (N=138) were surveyed regarding their attitudes toward children's use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Findings were compared with previous findings on attitudes of students in two Philadelphia high schools and the ISR National Survey of High School Students. Ninety-six percent of parents reported that they “strongly disapproved” of even “occasional” use of any substances stronger than marihuana, alcohol or cigarettes. Fifty-nine percent of parents responded that marihuana was physically addictive. Ratings of students' attitudes towards substance use by adults indicated that each generation demands a stricter standard of behavior from the other generation than from their own. However, not a single parent reported that he/she would notify the police that their child was using marihuana. Parents' ideas were compared with students' ideas regarding reasons for using drugs and alcohol, and regarding legalization of marihuana.

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