Factors Associated with Illegal Drug Use in Rural Georgia

1983 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted L. Napier ◽  
Douglas C. Bachtel ◽  
Michael V. Carter

Data assessing the extent of illegal drug use were collected in the spring of 1981 from 2,060 junior and senior high school students living in a rural county in southern Georgia. The sample consists of 83.2 percent of all students in grades 8 through 12 in the county. Only students absent from the public schools at the time the questionnaires were administered were excluded from the analyses. A private school in the county with less than 5 percent of all students refused to participate in the study. The study findings are basically consistent with research expectations. It was revealed that the respondents participated extensively in illegal drug use. Approximately 76.7 percent of the respondents indicated they had consumed alcohol at least once, 41.0 percent had tried marijuana at least once, 64.5 percent had tried cigarettes at least once, 16.0 percent had tried amphetamines at least once, and 12.2 percent had tried barbiturates at least once. The frequency of each illegal drug was regressed against selected independent variables and the findings revealed that ten variables explained 41.4 percent of the variance in alcohol use, eleven variables explained 57.3 percent of the variance in marijuana use, eight variables explained 28.7 percent of the variance in cigarette use, seven variables explained 30.4 percent of the variance in amphetamine use, and eight variables explained 35.7 percent of the variance in barbiturate use.

2019 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-37
Author(s):  
Oluwakemi Adeola Obayelu ◽  
Ifeoluwa Olawale Fadele

Abstract The decline in youth population and the upsurge in ageing farmer population have resulted in low agricultural output and per capital productivity in rural Nigeria, which is a threat to the national food security. High school students’ perception of agriculture and factors influencing their willingness to study agriculture in tertiary institutions were therefore investigated in this study. Information from 285 science students in high schools was analysed using descriptive statistics, Likert scale and logistic regression. Age of the students was 15.30 ± 1.17 years with almost equal distribution of both sexes. About half (50.5 %) of them wanted to study medicine where as only 4.6 % of the respondents were willing to study agriculture in the university. A higher percentage of female students (57.6 %) were willing to study agriculture in tertiary institution than their male counterparts (42.4 %). A higher percentage of students from public schools (51.4 %) were willing to study agriculture whereas 48.6 % of those from private schools were willing to do so. The students were undecided about the contribution of agriculture to national development but strongly disagreed that agriculture gives less income than other professions. Major motivating factors that can stimulate the respondents’ willingness to study agriculture were career awareness program in agriculture, practical knowledge of agriculture and agricultural excursion. The likelihood of a high school student’s willingness to study agriculture increased significantly with having a father who primarily practised agriculture and supports agricultural education, attending a school where crude implements are not used, visit to a mechanized farm and the youth’s willingness to own a farm in the future irrespective of the course of study, while attending a private school will decrease it. In conclusion, high school students had average perception of agriculture and were not willing to study agriculture in tertiary institutions. Suggestions are presented on how to change this negative attitude towards this vital branch of science.


1974 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 187-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E. Lerner ◽  
Ronald L. Linder ◽  
Judy C. Drolet

An upward trend of psychoactive drug use within the lower grade levels was observed among 616 high school students. Although different patterns of drug use exist between parochial and public high school sophomores, by their junior year the two groups were similar. Over half of the public high school students claimed they take drugs either “for kicks” or “for curiosity”.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Bahramnejad ◽  
Abedin Iranpour ◽  
Nouzar Nakhaee

Abstract Background Recent evidence from Western countries suggests that private school students are more prone to drug use. Such an evidence is lacking in Muslim countries. The aim of this study was to examine whether the risk of drug use is higher in private schools than public schools.Methods This cross sectional study was conducted on 650 tenth grade students of Kerman city, the center of largest province of Iran using cluster sampling. Well-validated questionnaires regarding current, lifetime substance use, and perceived use by classmates were utilized. Substances included in the questionnaire were waterpipe, cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, opium, methamphetamine, and Naas. Drug Use Tendency Scale was used to measure the attitudes of students towards drug use.Results The response rate was 93.7%. More than 82% of sample were public school students (n = 504). Current use of cigarette and marijuana was higher in private schools (12.2% and 3.0%, respectively) than public schools (4.4% and 0.5%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Perceived prevalence of cigarette smoking by classmates was higher among private school students.Conclusion Despite the popular belief that private schools are better than public schools regarding the risk of substance use, students who attend private schools may be at a higher risk of turning to some drugs comparing to public schools in Iran.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Bahramnejad ◽  
Abedin Iranpour ◽  
Nouzar Nakhaee

Abstract Background : Recent evidence from Western countries suggests that private school students are more prone to drug use. Such an evidence is lacking in Muslim countries. The aim of this study was to examine whether the risk of drug use is higher in private schools than public schools. Methods : This cross sectional study was conducted on 650 tenth grade students of Kerman city, the center of largest province of Iran using cluster sampling. Well-validated questionnaires regarding current, lifetime substance use, and perceived use by classmates were utilized. Substances included in the questionnaire were waterpipe, cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, opium, methamphetamine, and Naas. Drug Use Tendency Scale was used to measure the attitudes of students towards drug use. Results : The response rate was 93.7%. More than 82% of sample were public school students (n=504). Current use of cigarette and marijuana was higher in private schools (12.2% and 3.0%, respectively) than public schools (4.4% and 0.5%, respectively) (P<0.05). Perceived prevalence of cigarette smoking by classmates was higher among private school students. Conclusion : Despite the popular belief that private schools are better than public schools regarding the risk of substance use, students who attend private schools may be at a higher risk of turning to some drugs comparing to public schools in Iran.


Author(s):  
Ali Bahramnejad ◽  
Abedin Iranpour ◽  
Nouzar Nakhaee

Abstract Background Recent evidence from Western countries suggests that private school students are more prone to drug use. Such an evidence is lacking in Muslim countries. The aim of this study was to examine whether the risk of drug use is higher in private schools than public schools. Methods This cross sectional study was conducted on 650 tenth grade students of Kerman city, the center of largest province of Iran using cluster sampling. Well-validated questionnaires regarding current, lifetime substance use, and perceived use by classmates were utilized. Substances included in the questionnaire were waterpipe, cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, opium, methamphetamine, and Naas. Drug Use Tendency Scale was used to measure the attitudes of students towards drug use. Results The response rate was 93.7%. More than 82% of sample were public school students (n = 504). Current use of cigarette and marijuana was higher in private schools (12.2 and 3.0%, respectively) than public schools (4.4 and 0.5%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Perceived prevalence of cigarette smoking by classmates was higher among private school students. Conclusion Despite the popular belief that private schools are better than public schools regarding the risk of substance use, students who attend private schools may be at a higher risk of turning to some drugs comparing to public schools in Iran.


1984 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ted L. Napier ◽  
Richard Goe ◽  
Douglas C. Bachtel

Data were collected in 1981 from 4,859 junior and senior high school students living in two counties in southern Georgia to examine the relationship of peer group influence and psychosocial identification with the frequency of drug use. Information regarding the type and extent of drug use was collected from the students as well as peer group relationships and psychosocial identification with various groups. These data provided the opportunity to examine the merits of a theoretical perspective developed from selected components of differential association and differential identification theories. The regression analyses revealed that eighteen variables explained 72.2 percent of the variance in soft drug use (4 variables explained 68.4 percent) while nine variables explained 62.6 percent of the variance in hard drug use (4 variables explained 61.4 percent). The findings basically support the theoretical perspective as stated.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-49
Author(s):  
James E Johnson ◽  
Allison K Manwell ◽  
Beau F Scott

Interscholastic football has the highest participation rates among high school students in the United States.  The popularity and nostalgic connection of football is widespread, but competitive balance is often challenged due to differing characteristics of high schools.  This study utilized the theory of distributive justice and data from high school athletic associations in all 50 states and District of Columbia to consider which variables (public/private status, school population, rural/urban location, geographical region, and policies) may impact competitive balance at the state-championship level of interscholastic football.  The results confirmed that traditionally strong private schools generally located in the Midwest and Northeast win state titles at disproportionately high rates.  No other variable was as powerful or significant as the public/private variable.  The findings of the study also challenged the effectiveness of existing policies designed to curb private school success.  These results can serve pragmatic efforts to ensure competitive balance within interscholastic football.  


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Bahramnejad ◽  
Abedin Iranpour ◽  
Nouzar Nakhaee

Abstract Background Recent evidence from Western countries suggests that private school students are more prone to drug use. Such an evidence is lacking in Muslim countries. The aim of this study was to examine whether the risk of drug use is higher in private schools than public schools. Methods This cross sectional study was conducted on 630 randomly selected 10th grade students of Kerman city, the center of largest province of Iran. Well-validated questionnaires regarding current, lifetime substance use, and perceived use by classmates were utilized. Substances included in the questionnaire were waterpipe, cigarette, alcohol, marijuana, opium, methamphetamine, and Naas. Drug Abuse Tendency Scale was used to measure the attitudes of students towards drug use. Results More than 82% of sample were public school students (n = 504). Ever use of cigarette, alcohol and marijuana was higher in private schools (27.6%, 39.0%, and 5.7%, respectively) than public schools (15.3%, 25.8%, 2.2%, respectively) (P < 0.05). The drug abuse tendency score was nearly higher in public school students (10.4 ± 9.4) than private schools (12.1 ± 9.9) (P = 0.090). Perceived prevalence of cigarette and marijuana use by classmates was higher among private school students. Conclusion Despite the popular belief that private schools are better than public schools regarding the risk of substance use, students who attend private schools are at a higher risk of turning to some drugs comparing to public schools in Iran.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 29
Author(s):  
Ayodeji Daramola ◽  
Gbolahan Solomon Osho

Research has shown a strong correlation between drug use and delinquency. In addition, research has also shown that drug use tends to peak in late adolescence and the onset of early adulthood. Consequently, the high school years, especially, the 12th grade is an important transition in the life course of delinquents. This study used descriptive statistics to compare drug use among Black, White, and Hispanic 12th grade high school students, and Spearman’s correlation to find which drugs have the strongest correlation to delinquency. The data for this study was downloaded from Monitoring the Future (MTF, 2007). The Null Hypothesis is that Blacks use more drugs than both Whites and Hispanics; hence they are more involved in delinquency than both Whites and Hispanics. The drugs analyzed in this study are: alcohol, marijuana, crack, cocaine, narcotics, LSD, and heroin.


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