Drug use and school dropout: A longitudinal study.

Abstract

Questioned 915 9th graders concerning their use of drugs. 13 mo later Ss who had dropped out of school as well as those still attending reported again on thier current drug practices. Results support previous findings by demonstrating greater use of most licit and illicit drugs by dropouts following their withdrawal from school. Furthermore, for almost every drug, the trend towards greater drug use within the dropout group was evident and equally strong before the dropout. There was, however, indication that dropouts were more likely to initiate some categories of drug use following dropout. Findings are discussed in terms of a "symptom" vs "cause" view of school dropout in relation to drug use. It is concluded that drug use functions as part of the constellation of contributing factors that precedes dropping out of school, but that dropout status itself may play a causal role in fostering self-identification and/or social group contacts which promote the development of drug abuse patterns.