CASA: America's Schools Infested With Drugs

Four out of five high school students and about half of all middle school students attend drug infested schools, where they have personally witnessed illegal drug use, drug dealing, drug possession and students drunk and/or high on school grounds, according to The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. Parents need to wake up to the reality that most of the nation's schools are sources of illegal drugs, researchers say.

The findings of CASA's 12th annual back-to-school survey, "National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII: Teens and Parents," shows a huge increase in students exposed to drugs at school in the past five years. Since 2002, the proportion of students who attend schools where drugs are used, kept or sold has jumped 39 percent for high school students and 63 percent for middle school students.

"This fall more than 16 million teens will return to middle and high schools where drug dealing, possession, use and students high on alcohol or drugs are part of the fabric of their school," said Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA's chairman, in a new release. "Too many of our nation's high and middle schools have become marijuana marts and pill palaces.

Wake Up to the Reality

"Parents should wake up to this reality and realize more likely than not, your teen is going to school each day in a building where drug use, sale and possession is as much a part of the curriculum as math or English and do something about it. For many of our middle and high school students, school days have become school daze."

"CASA's deeper dive into the American school system reveals that our nation's youth are drenched in a culture where drug and alcohol abuse are commonplace and that drug-infested schools encourage the idea that it's cool to get high and drunk," noted Califano. "Over the past few years the corridors and classrooms of too many of our schools have become open drug bazaars for teens."

Here are some of the highlights of the 2007 survey findings, from a CASA news release:

More Likely to Use Drugs

Compared to teens at drug-free schools, those at drug-infested schools are:

• 16 times more likely to use an illegal drug other than marijuana or prescription drugs.

• 15 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs.

• Six times more likely to get drunk at least monthly.

• Five times more likely to use marijuana.

• Four times more likely to smoke cigarettes.

• Four times more likely to be able to buy marijuana within a day.

• Nearly six times more likely to be able to buy marijuana within an hour.

Perils of Popularity

The CASA survey also found that popular teens who attend drug-infested schools are much more likely to smoke, get drunk, abuse prescription and illegal drugs. Among teens who consider themselves the most popular at their schools, compared to those at drug-free schools such teens at drug-infested schools are:

• At least 10 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs.

• Nine times more likely to use illegal drugs other than marijuana or prescription drugs.

• Five times more likely to get drunk at least monthly.

• Four and a half times more likely to use marijuana.

• Four and a half times more likely to smoke or chew tobacco.

Parental Attitudes and Teen Behavior

Teens are much more likely to smoke, drink and use drugs when their parents:

• Believe it is very likely that their child will try drugs in the future.

• Do not take steps to limit what their child is exposed to in movies, television and music, and on the Internet.

Only 11 percent of parents see drugs as their teen's greatest concern, but twice as many teens (24 percent) say drugs are their greatest concern.

Other Survey Findings

• 59 percent of parents whose teens attend schools where drugs are used, kept, or sold believe the goal of making their child's school drug free is unrealistic, while 41 percent of parents consider this a realistic goal.

• Compared to their teen using marijuana, 48 percent of parents would be more bothered if their teen had sex, 82 percent would be more bothered if their teen drove a car while intoxicated and 52 percent would be more bothered if their teen shoplifted.

• Almost 10 million 12- to 17-year olds (37 percent) say they can buy marijuana within a day, and 4.4 million (17 percent) can buy marijuana in an hour or less.

More Information:

• Is Your Child Using Drugs or Alcohol?
  
• How Will Your Child Drink?
  
• Tips for Parents

Photo: Clipart.com

Source: The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII: Teens and Parents. August 2007.