GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS COLLECTION

A S U R V E Y O F A D O L E S C E N T DRUG T A K I N G B E H A V I O R

B E R K S H I R E C O U N T Y , M A S S A C H U S E T T S

F E B R U A R Y , 1 9 7 9

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

COLLECTION

JUN 2 1983

+j':!!ersity

of Massachu:,

Depository Copy

F o r : T H E COMMONWEALTH O F M A S S A C H U S E T T S D E P A R T M E N T O F M E N T A L H E A L T H D I V I S I O N O F DRUG R E H A B I L I T A T I O N A u g u s t , 1 9 7 9 R o b e r t B . M u r p h y

P U B L I C A T I O N : # 1 1 , 5 3 9 - 1 1 - 2 0 0 - 9 - 7 9

A P P R O V E D b y A l f r e d C . H o l l a n d , S t a t e P u r c h a s i n g A g e n t .

I n t r o d u c t i o n

D u r i n g t h e w i n t e r o f 1 9 7 8 , t h e D i v i s i o n o f D r u g R e h a b i l i t a t i o n w a s a p p r o a c h e d b y t h e W e s t e r n M a s s a c h u s e t t s H e a l t h P l a n n i n g C o u n c i l w i t h a r e q u e s t f o r i n f o r m a t i o n p e r t a i n i n g , t o m e t h o d s f o r a s s e s s i n g t h e s c o p e o f t h e d r u g p r o b l e m i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y .

A s we h a d b e e n p l a n n i n g t o r e s e a r c h d r u g p r o b l e m s i n r u r a l a r e a s , t h i s r e q u e s t p r e s e n t e d u s w i t h t h e u n i q u e o p p o r t u n i t y t o m e e t o u r n e e d s a n d t h o s e o f a l o c a l a g e n c y a t t h e s a m e t i m e .

A f t e r a y e a r o f p l a n n i n g a n d n e g o t i a t i n g w i t h s c h o o l a d m i n - i s t r a t o r s , we w e r e a b l e t o i m p l e m e n t a s u r v e y o f h i g h s c h o o l . s t u d e n t s i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y . T h i s r e p o r t i s t h e r e s u l t o f t h a t s u r v e y .

Me t h o d o l o g y

O u r s u r v e y i n s t r u m e n t w a s a s e l f - a d m i n i s t e r e d q u e s t i o n n a i r e d e s i g n e d b y D r . V i c t o r G e l i n e a u a n d h i s s t a f f i n 1 9 7 2 l a n d u s e d b y t h e D i v i s i o n i n s u r v e y s o f t h i s n a t u r e n e a r l y a d o z e n t i m e s i n t h e i n t e r v e n i n g s e v e n y e a r s . T h e o n l y c h a n g e s i n t h e i n s t r u m e n t w e r e t h e a d d i t i o n o f q u e s t i o n s p e r t a i n i n g t o t h e u s e o f P C P ~ a n d t h e d e l e t i o n o f a n u m b e r o f q u e s t i o n s a t t h e r e q u e s t o f s c h o o l a d m i n - i s t r a t o r s b e c a u s e t h e q u e s t i o n s were a s s e s s e d a s b e i n g o f t o o p e r s o n a l a n a t u r e 3 .

I n t o t a l , we c o n d u c t e d t h e s u r v e y s i n e l e v e n o f t h e f o u r t e e n s c h o o l s i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y w h i c h h a d h i g h s c h o o l a g e p o p u l a t i o n s . I n t h r e e s c h o o l s , t h e a d m i n i s t r a t i o n c h o s e n o t t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e s u r v e y . T h e s a m p l e w a s c o m p o s e d o f s t u d e n t s f r o m f o u r commu- n i t y h i g h s c h o o l s , o n e r e g i o n a l h i g h s c h o o l , t w o r e g i o n a l v o c a t i o n a l

t e c h n i c a l h i g h s c h o o l s , o n e p a r o c h i a l h i g h s c h o o l , a n d n i n t h g r a d e c l a s s e s o f t h r e e j u n i o r h i g h s c h o o l s .

I n s c h o o l s w h e r e h o m e r o o m s w e r e a r r a n g e d a l p h a b e t i c a l l y , w e t o o k a t e n p e r c e n t r a n d o m s a m p l e o f h o m e r o o m s . I n o t h e r s c h o o l s w h e r e h o m e r o o m s w e r e a r r a n g e d a c c o r d i n g t o s o m e s t u d e n t c h a r a c t e r - i s t i c ( e . g . , f i r s t p e r i o d c l a s s ) , we a s s u m e d t h a t t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t c o u l d h a v e a b i a s i n g e f f e c t o n t h e s a m p l e a n d t o o k a t e n p e r c e n t r a n d o m s a m p l e f r o m c l a s s l i s t s . T h e s a m p l e w a s s t r a t i f i e d a c c o r d i n g t o s c h o o l a n d g r a d e .

I n a l l , 5 1 7 o f a p o t e n t i a l 7 3 0 s t u d e n t s c o m p l e t e d t h e s u r v e y , g i v i n g u s a n e a r l y 71X r e s p o n s e r a t e . B e c a u s e t h e r e s p o n s e - r a t e v a r i e d among s c h o o l s f r o m 5 0 t o

l o o % ,

t h e r e s u l t s f o r e a c h s c h o o l were w e i g h t e d b y t h e r e l a t i v e r e s p o n s e r a t e .

1. S e e G e l i n e a u , J o h n s o n & P e a r s a l l , Mass. J o u r n a l o f M e n t a l H e a l t h V o l . 111, No. 2 , W i n t e r ' 7 3 .

2 . T h e u s e o f PCP w a s n e a r l y u n h e a r d o f u n t i l r e c e n t l y i n M a s s a c h u - s e t t s . O u r c o n c e r n o v e r i t s i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a r i t y c a u s e d u s t o a d d q u e s t i o n s p e r t a i n i n g t o i t .

3 . S e e C h a r t : PREVALENCE OF SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE B E H A V I O R A M O N G H I G H SCHOOL STUDENTS I N BERKSHIRE COUNTY.

3ecaiise o f o u r c a r e f u l l y c . o n s t r u c t e d s a m p l e , h i g h r e s p o n s e r a t e a n d v e l l - t e s t e d i n s t r u m e n t , w e a r e c o n f i d e n t t t a : t h e r e s u l t s o f r h i s s u r v e y a r e i n d i c a t i v e o f he b e h a v i o r a i t r e n d s o f h i g h s c h o o l s t a d e a t s i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y .

5 u r c q U s e i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y Among A d o l e s c e n t s

--*

O u r r e s u l t s s h o w t h a t o v e r w h e l m i n g l y , a l c o h o l a n d m a r i j u a n a

a r e t h e d r u g s o f c h o i c e f o r h i g h s c h o o . 1 s t u d e n t s i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y . . X e a r l y t h r e e q u a r t e r s o f t h e h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s ' n a v e b c e a i c t o x i c a t e d a t l e a s t o n c e a n d t h r e e i n f i v e h a v e t r i e d a a r i j u a z a . P u r t h e r , a q u a r t e r o f t h e s t u d e n t s r e p o r t r e g u l a r

i i i t o x L c ~ t i o n a n d S e t t e r t h a n c n e i n s i x r e ? o r t t h e r e g u l a r u s e o f

.

.

~ . . s z . ~ j ; : a i ~ n . T h e p r e v a l e n c e o f o t h e r d r u g u s e f a l l s f a r b e l o w this.

'.'es:er z i l e n o n e s t u d e n t i n six r e p o r t e v e r t r y i n g i n h a l a n t s ,

y h e n C p c 3 % d i n e , a n p h e t a m l n e s o r h a l l u c i n o g e n s ; l e s s t h a n o n e i n t e n : l a v e c r i e d n a r c o t i c s o t h e r t h a n h e r o i n , b a r b i t u r a t e s , o r c o c z i n e , a n d l e s s t 3 a n o n e in f o r t y r e p o r t e v e r t r y i n g h e r o i n . T h e r e p o r t e d

r c z u l a z u s a g e o f t h e s e d r u g s i s l e s s t h a n o n e p e r c e n t .

$72 f s u n d t h a t t w o o f f i v e s t u d e n t s r e g u l a r l y u s e a t l e a s t o n e d r ~ z -, i r L c l u d i c g a l c o h o l . A ? p r o x i ~ a t e l g a q c z r t z r c f t h e s t u d e n t s i ~ s e .zt L e s s t o n e d r u g r e g u l a r l y e x c l u d i n g a l c o h o l , a n d f e v e r t h a n

o7.5 <;I t w e n t y r e g a l a r l y u s e a n y o f t h e " h a r d " d r u g s ( s e e b e l o w , p a ~ e s 3 a n d 4 ) .

RTZORTEP DRUG USE AW!iC HIGH S W L S?lf3ErnS: BEXSPIRE OOUhT. ₁₉₇₉

( I ) EXPERImAL USE: Discontinuad p & t us..

(2) INFREQUEM CURRENT USE: Current UY. a t l e s r than a once per week r a t e ESTPATED W E B OF STUDENTS a m - U I L E ( 4 ;

(3) REGULAR CUPJLEM USE: CCrrent we a t a once per vrek or g r e a t e r r a t e E)(PEW(ENTAL USE. (1)

390 (220

-

⁵⁵⁰⁾

1180 (790

-

¹⁵⁶⁰⁾

970 (620

-

¹³²⁰⁾

740 (430

-

¹⁰⁵⁰⁾

4 10 (230

-

⁷²⁰⁾

6 30 (330

-

⁹²⁰⁾

315 (LOO

-

⁵²⁰⁾

4 20 (180

-

⁶⁶⁰⁾

25 0 (80

-

⁴³⁰⁾

110 (0

-

²³⁰⁾

(4) POPLUTION BASE OF SAKPLED YOPUUTION: 7,310

ESTWTLD HIGH SCHOOL AGE POPULATION CX)VKI1-UIDE: 11,000 INFFZQUENT

cv~aen USE (2) 4 880 (4290

-

5480)

3470 (2890

-

⁴⁰⁴⁰⁾

670 0 9 0

-

⁹⁶⁰⁾

860 (530

-

¹¹⁹⁰⁾

as9

(550

-

1210) 770 1 4 6 3

-

¹⁰⁶⁰⁾

S 9 t (320

-

^e70)

450 (210

-

⁶⁹⁰⁾

5 70 (310

-

840)

110 ( 0

-

²³⁰⁾

E*>UbR CURREIR ilse (3)

2750

(2210

-

^{3290) I}

1960 (1510

-

²⁴³⁰⁾

10 (0

-

⁵⁰⁾

10 (0

-

50)

90 ( 0

-

²⁰⁰⁾

LO ( 0

-

¹²⁰⁾

4

GIAL

8020 (74QOr8550)

6610 (6092

-

⁷¹⁹⁰⁾

1650 (1220

-

^208C)

1610 (1180

-

²⁰⁴⁰⁾

L ~ L G (1030

-

¹⁸⁵⁰⁾

1440 (1030

-

¹⁸⁵⁰⁾

90 I 990

( 0

-

^{ZOO) (640}

-

^L3LOj

60 (0

-

¹⁴⁰⁾

50 (0

-

¹²⁰⁾

9 30 (590

-

¹²⁵⁰⁾

870 (560

-

¹²⁰⁰⁾

30

(0

-

¹⁰⁰⁾ (80

-

^{7.50 430) . .}

REPORTED DRUG USE AMONG H I G H SCHOOL STUDENTS:

BERKSHIRE COUNTY, FEBRUARY 19 79

\

1. EXPERIMENTAL USE: Discontinued p a s t use

2. INFREQUENT CURRENT USE: Current use a t less t h a n a weekly r a t e 3. REGULAR CURRENT USE: Current use on a t least a once p e r week b a s i s .

I

'

.

NOTE: Experimental, I n f r e q u e n t C u r r e n t , and Regular Current a r e

-

mutually e x c l u s i v e .

% R E P O R T I N G

DRUG TYPE:

ALCOHOL

MAR1 JUANA

INHAL ENT S

AMPHETAMINES

PHENCYCLIDINE

HALLUCINOGENS OPIATES (OTHER THAN HEROIN) BARBITURATES

COCAINE

HERO I N

EXPERIMENTAL USE

3.5

10.7

8.8

6.7

4.3

5 . 7

2.8

3.8

2.3

1 .O

INFREQUENT CURRENT

USE

44.4

31.5

6 . 1

7.8

8.0

7 .O

5.4

4.1

5 . 2

1 . 0

1

REGULAR CURRENT

USE

25 .O

17.9

0.1

0 . 1

0 . 8

0 . 4

0 . 8

0.5

0.4

0.3

TOTAL

72.9

60.1

15.0

14.6

1 3 . 1

1 3 . 1

9 .O

8.4

7.9

2.3

I

FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY 1979

S t u d e n t s r e p o r t i n g r e g u l a r u s e of any d r u g i n c l u d i n g a l c o h o l 1.

Number of ^% S t u d e n t s

Drugs used Rc!porting

Estimated number of S t u d e n t , countywide 2.

None 5 6 . 1 6170 (5580

-

⁶⁷⁷⁰⁾

3 o r more

S t u d e n t s r e p o r t i n g r e g u l a r u s e of d r u g s o t h e r t h a n a l c o h o l

Number of ^% S t u d e n t s

Drugs used R e p o r t i n g

Estimated number of S t u d e n t s , countywide

None 71.2 7830 (7290

-

⁸³⁷⁰⁾

3 o r more

S t u d e n t s r e p o r t i n g r e g u l a r u s e of d r u g s o t h e r t h a n m a r i j u a n a and a l c o h o l

Number of % S t c d e n t s

Dl-ugs used R e p o r t i n g

Estimated number of S t u d e n t s , countywide

None 95.9 10550 (10320

-

¹⁰⁷⁸⁰⁾

3 o r more

1. R e g u l a r use: C u r r e n t u s e a t a once p e r week r a t e o r g r e a t e r .

2 . P o p u l a t i o n b a s e of sampled popul.ation: 7,310 e s t i m a t e d countywide h i g h s c h o o l a g e p o p u l a t i o n 1 1 , 0 0 0 e s t i m a t e s rounded. t o t h e n e a r e s t t e n s t u d e n t s .

?:I: i n a t h e r t e r m s , i n t h e t y p i c a l B 2 r k s h i r e C o u n t y h i g h s c h o o l h o m e r o o m o f 35 s t u d & n t s , 2 5 _{w i l l} h a v e b e c o m e i n t o x i c a t e d

a: l e a s t o n c e a n d 2 1 w i l l h a v e t r i e d m a r i j u a n a . F o u r t e e n s t u d e n t s w i l l r e g u l a r l y u s e a t l e a s t o n e d r u g o r a l c o h o l , n i n e ill b e c o m e

i n c ~ x i c a t e d r e g u l a r l y a n d s i x w i l l r e g u l a r l y s m o k e m a r i j u a n a .

F l . v e s r u d e n t s w i l l h a v e e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h i n h a l a n t s , a m p h e t a m i n e s , g h e n c y c i i d i n e , o r h a l l u c i n o g e n s . T h r e e w i l l h a v e e x p e r i m e n t e d w i t h o p i a t e s , b a r b i t u r a t e s o r c o c a i n e , a n d o n e w i l l h a v e t r i e d h e r o i n . . T h o u g h i t i s u n l i k e l y t h a t a n y s t u d e n t i n t h i s h y p o t h e t - i c a l h o m e r o o m w i l l r e g u l a r l y t a k e any o n e p a r t i c u l a r h a r d d r u g ,

- 9p.e s t n d c a t v i l l r e g u l a r l y t a k e - : a r i o u s h a r d d r u g s . One o r t w o o t h e r s v i l l u s e t h e h a r d e r d r u g s o n a n occasional b a s i s .

".

_,ne ^' S o c i a l C c n t e x t o f D r c g U s e i n H e r k s h i r e C o u n t y

--.-.---

---

We h a v e s e e n t h a t a x T e r i m e n t a t i o n w i t h p s y c h o t r o p i c s c b s t a n c e s i s - . . : l i e s p r e a d among h i g h s c h o o l s t c d c n t s i n S e r k s h i r e C o u n t y .

-

r u r t t e r a o r e , w e h a v e s e e n t h a t n e a r l y h a l f o f t h e s t u d e n t s u s e d r u g s o r a l c o h o l o n a r e g u l a r b a s i s . H o w e v e r , e x a m i n a t i o n o f d r u g u s c o u t s i d e o f t h e s o c i a i c o n t e x t i n w h i c h i t o c c u r s p r o v i d e s a n i n c o m p l e t e p i c t u r e .

T D c o r u p l e t e t h e p i c t u r e , w e e x s w i n e 2 d r u g u s e d a t a i n c o n t r a s t

t c s o a e o f t h e m o r e t r a d i t i o n a l s a c i a l d a t a t h a t we c o l l e c t e d .

7- . l . n t e r e s t l n g i ; r e n a u g h , w e f o u n d n o s t a t i s t i c a l d i f f e r e n c e s b e t w e e n .- ,-,.,.,~e . s t u a z i ~ t s who h a d t r i e d d r u g s a n d t h o s e who h a d n o r when w e c s c 3 i n e d s u c h d a t a a s z g e , g r a d e i n s c h o o l , f a t h e r ' s e d u c a t i o n , a n d f a t h e r ' s c c c u p a t i c n ( s e e be1,ow a n d p a g e 6 ) .

FOR SCFXSRIRE O D ' t 1 9 i 9

--

XILX SEWS, ?X;DEHi DRUG USE hCWRDlNC TO E I G SCHOOL STrEENT DRUG USE ACCORDING 50

F P

-- -

T.\IREBgS OCCUPAIlON

PROFESSIONAL FA?YE>'S

Includes: S t u d e n t , Unemployed, and Other.

Z S T V D m S REPORTING DRUG USE

75 m i s s i n g c u e s of 51;.

Ineluder -0 year Busincsa o r Technical k g r e e .

** I n d d e s P o ~ t - C r a d u n t e Degrees. CHI Square e a u a l s 6.49: No s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e

40 u i 5 r i n s c r r e a of 517. a t 0 . 0 5 l e v e l .

CFlI Sq*lrre c*,r;~;e 12.66: tio s i g n i f i c n n c difference st 0.C5 l e v e l .

[JDirzOW

^{UVE USLD}

LESS T U 3

H?bX SQiCXJ:. 8.5 nh'1sH SGI.WL 20.9

DZIZO?L\

I--

^{* SOW}

lBRl USED

7 . 8

12.4

3 . 2

6.1

6.2

2.5

38.2 WLLECE

IINISB WLLEGI!

** SOHE I E T - CRAWATE ,EWC.

M)T SURE

I E T A L

f;)TAL

1 6 . 3

-

^33.3

-

l 5 . 1

15.5

1 4 . 2

5.6

100.0 1 1 -9

9 . 4

8 . 0

3 . 1

61;s

FOR EEPXSYT2E CdiFCV, 19 79

- ---

ACCOmIMG TO AGE

-

TOTAL N e q u a l s 511; 6 m i s s i n g c a s e s

U?I SQUAKE e q u a l s 4.65, n o t s i g n i f i c a n t a t 0.05 l e v e i

-

AGE 1 3 o r 14

I

^1.5

C--?

i _&.

¹⁷

.--

iS 0.r 19

f -

FOR REKYSSIRE COULXCP, 15 79

223CRTF.D DRUG USE AMONG HIGH SCHOGL STUDENTS ACCORDING TO GRADE

% STITDEPTTS REPORTING HAVE USED

8.2 1 3 . 3

-

1 8 . 1 15.7

-

6.5 61.8

TOTAL N e q u a l s 509 c a s e s ; 8 m i s s i n g c a s e s GRADE

T i Z SHMAN

E

SCPEOXORE

CHI SQUARE e q u a l s 1.31, n o t s i g n i f i c a n t a t 0.05 l e v e l

, NEVER USED 6.8 9.9 9 . 5 9 .O 3.1 38.2

TOTAL 1 5 .O 23.2 27.5 24.7 9.6

100.0 .

Z STUDENTS REPORTING

I

HAVE USED 14.2 14.8

--

16.7 1 6 . 1 61.8

NEVER USED 9.8 8.9 1 1 . 0 8.5 38.2

TOTAL 24 .O 23.7 27.7 24.6 100.0

FOR BLRKSRIRE C O m , 1 9 2

PERCNT OP s n ~ m s EFQRT'CNG F W ~ C P OF LVTOXICATION BY SEX, &L STLTDEKTS

-

TOTAL N equals 501; 16 & s i n g cases

CZI S Q U A W equals 21.6. s i g n i f i c a n t a t 0.05 l e v e l SEX:

W E

I F U f E

i0'I.U.

_ _ _ _ _ _ - - - _ - - -

-

FOR BEP-KSEIYE COUNTY, 1979

FERCEW OF S S ~ D ~ T S REPORTING ?RE?UE?XY 3 P INTOXICATIOK EY SEX, STUDESTS LEORTING HAVISG TXIED DXGGS

F R Z Q W C Y OF IXTOXICATION (AtCOHOL)

TOW N equals 347; 16 missing cases

GiI SqUAXE equals 0 . 9 2 . not s i g n i f i c a n t a t 0.05 l e v e l SEX:

MALE

EEXALE

TOT&

L

W e a l s o f o u n d s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e s w h e n w e e x a m i n e d m a r k s i n s c h o o l a c c o r d i n g t o d r u g u s e . T h o u g h d r u g u s e w a s p r e v a l e n t t o a t l e a s t 4 9 % a t a l l l e v e l s o f a c h i e v e m e n t , i t i n c r e a s e d d r a m a t i c a l l y a s g r a d e s b e c a m e l o w e r . W h e r e h a l f t h e "A" s t u d e n t s r e p o r t e d d r u g u s e . a p p r o x i m a t e l y 8 0 % o f t h e " C a n d D" s t u d e n t s r e p o r t e d d r u g u s e . W e s a w n o r e v e r s a l o f t h i s t r e n d a t a n y l e v e l o f a c h i e v e m e n t . T h i s

i s a p a t t e r n t h a t w e h a v e s e e n i n n e a r l y a v e r y s t u d y o f t h i s n a t u r e t h a t w e h a v e d o n e .

N E E R

10.6

20.2

30.8

I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d h e r e t h a t c a u t i o n s h o u l d b e u s e d i n i n t e r - p r e t i n g t h e s e f i g u r e s . I t c a n s a f e l y b e s a i d t h a t a c h i e v e m e n t i n s c h o o l 2 n d d r u g u s e a r e r e l a t e d . A t t h e s a n e t i m e , h o w e v e r ,

INFREQEhnY

13.9

17.2

36.1 ONCE

4 . 0

4.0

8.3

FREQUENCY OF IbTOXICATION (ALCOHOL) XEbliLAfitY

16.4

10.7

25.1

0s CE

5 . 8

5 . 8

l l . 6

TCTAt :

47.5

5 2 . 1 '

:OO.O

E W Y

20.7

15 - 5

3662 IXnEQENTLY

27.4

24.8

52.2

TOTAL:

53.9

$ 6 . 1

190.0

b e c a c s e s o many o f t h o s e s t u d e n t s who h a v e a c h i e v e d h i g h g r a d e s d o r e p o r t d r u g u s e , o n e s h o u l d n o t c o n s i d e r h i g h o r l o w a c h i e v e m e n t In s c h o o l a p r e d i c t o r o f d r u g u s e . P u t i n o t h e r t e r m s , i t c a n b e s ~ i d t h a t t h e " l o w a c h i e v e r " i s m o r e l i k e l y t o h a v e t r i e d d r u g s t h a n t h e " h i g h a c h i e v e r . " A t t h e s a m e t i m e , h o w e v e r , o n e o f e v e r y

" h i g h a c h i e v e r s " w i l l h a v e t r i e d d r u g s ( s e e b e l o w ) .

FOP. BPIMSSIP. COUNl'Y, 1979

-

PERCEhT STITDENTS RTPORTINC E R G CSE

ACCOIZXNC TO ?UR);S IN SCROCL

and b e l w

TOTAL 38.1 61.9 100 .O

TOTAL I equals 510; 7 m i s s i q cases

CHI SQCAV equals 18.9, s i g n i f i c h a t . a t 0.05 level

To c o n c l u d e , t h o u g h we f o u n d s o m e d i f f e r e n c e b e t w e e n t h o s e s t u d e n t s who h a d u s e d d r u g s a n d t h o s e who h a d n o t , w h e n w e i g h e d

a g a i n s t t h e o t h e r d a t a a n d m e a s u r e d f o r t h e i r d i r e c t i o n a l t e n d e n c i e s , t h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s d o n o t p r o v i d e a n y c l e a r p a r a m e t e r s f o r i d e n t i - f i c a t i o n . I n s h o r t . t h e n , we c a n c o n c l u d e t h a t no r e a l i d e n t i f y i n g a s s u m p t i o n s c a n b e made a b o u t " w h a t k i n d o f k i d " u s e s d r u g s i n S c r k s ' n i r e , C c u n t y . . I n n e a r l y e v e r y r e s p e c t , t h e t y p i c a l d r u g u s i n g t e e n a g e r i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y r e s e m b l e s t h e t y p i c a l t e e n a g e r i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y .

T h i s c a n b e u n d e r s t o o d m o r e c l e a r l y when o n e e x a m i n e s some o f t h e o t h e r d a t a p e r t a i n i n g t o d r u g u s e among t h e s e s t u d e n t s .

N e x t t o c h e a t i n g , u s e o f a l c o h o l o r d r u g s a t a t l e a s t t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l l e v e l , i s t h e m o s t p r e v a l e n t f o r m o f m i s b e h a v i o r

among B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s . O t h e r t h a n " s k i p p i n g s c h o o l " a n d c h e a t i n g , n o o t h e r f o r m o f m i s b e h a v i o r i s m o r e p r e v a l - e n t t h a n t h e r e g u l a r u s e o f d r u g s o r a l c o h o l ( s e e p a g e 1 1 ) .

Of s p e c i a l c o n c e r n i s t h e f a c t t h a t d r i v i n g w h i l e i n t o x i c a t e d i s a f a i r l y p r e v a l e n t b e h a v i o r . T h e f i g u r e s b e l i e i t s p r e v a l e n c e . A s s u m i n g t h a t o n l y s t u d e n t s o f d r i v i n g a g e d r i v e w h i l e i n t o x i c a t e d , we c a n e s t i m a t e t h a t n e a r l y h a l f ( 4 3 . 6 % ) h a v e d r i v e n w h i l e d r u n k

a n d m o r e t h a n a q u a r t e r ( 2 7 . 6 % ) h a v e d r i v e n w h i l e h i g h o n d r u g s ( s e e p a g e 1 1 ) .

N e a r l y e v e r y s t u d e n t ( 9 6 . 8 % ) r e p o r t e d t h a t a t l e a s t a f e w o f t h e i r f r i e n d s d r i n k ; b e t t e r t h a n t h r e e o f f o u r s t u d e n t s r e p o r t a t l e a s t a f e w o f t h e i r f r i e n d s u s e d r u g s ( s e e p a g e 1 2 ) .

T h e k n o w l e d g e o f d r u g a v a i l a b i l i t y i s w i d e s p r e a d . N e a r l y e i g h t o f t e n s t u d e n t s r e p o r t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y o f m a r i j u a n a a n d n e a r l y two o f t h r e e r e p o r t k n o w l e d g e o f t h e a v a i l - a b i l i t y o f h a r d e r d r u g s ( s e e p a g e 1 2 ) .

P e r h a p s t h e m o s t t e l l i n g s t a t i s t i c p e r t a i n s t o w h e r e s t u d e n t s g e t d r u g s . N e a r l y 7 0 % . o f t h e s t u d e n t s who u s e d r u g s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e y g o t t h e i r d r u g s f r o m s o m e o n e w i t h i n t h e i r own a g e g r o u p . T h i s a c c o u n t s f o r 9 5 % o f t h o s e s t u d e n t s r e p o r t i n g a s i n g l e s o u r c e o f d r u g s ( s e e p a g e 1 2 ) .

T h e f a c t t h a t s o many s t u d e n t s o b t a i n d r u g s f r o m w i t h i n t h e i r own p e e r g r o u p s h o w s u s t h a t t h e d i s t r i b u t i o n s y s t e m f o r d r u g s u s e d b y B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s i s c o n s t r u c t e d m o s t l y o f

t h e h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s t h e m s e l v e s . I t s h o w s u s t h a t t h e i m a g e o f a n i n v a s i o n o f " p u s h e r s " i n f e s t i n g s c h o o l y a r d s a n d s t r e e t c o r n e r s i s m o s t l y a m y t h . H i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s a r e s e l l i n g d r u g s t o e a c h o t h e r , a n d w h e n a h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t e n t e r s a d r u g t a k i n g o r d r i n k - i n g c a r e e r , h e o r s h e i s m o s t l i k e l y t o e n t e r t h r o u g h t h e p e e r g r o u p . More t h a n a n y t h i n g t h i s s h o w s u s how d e e p l y d r u g a n d a l c o h o l u s e i s

i m b e d d e d i n t h e y o u t h c u l t u r e .

P a t t e r n s o f D r u g U s e , B e h a v i o r s , a n d A t t i t u d e s

One o t h e r m e t h o d o f d e f i n i n g t h e c o n t e x t o f d r u g u s e i s t o r e l a t e i n d i v i d u a l p a t t e r n s o f d r u g u s e t o b e h a v i o r s a n d a t t i t u d e s . O u r s u r v e y c o l l e c t e d some i n f o r m a t i o n i n t h e s e a r e a s i n o r d e r t o make t h i s c o m p a r i s o n . I t i s i n t h e s e c o m p a r i s o n s t h a t we w e r e a b l e

t o i d e n t i f y some v e r y c l e a r p a r a m e t e r s o f i d e n t i f i c a t i o n f o r a

p a r t i c u l a r s u b s e t o f t h e d r u g u s i n g a d o l e s c e n t s i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y . O u r s u r v e y a s k e d q u e s t i o n s p e r t a i n i n g t o e a c h s t u d e n t ' s s a t i s - f a c t i o n w i t h l i f e i n g e n e r a l , f a m i l y l i f e , s c h o o l , a n d p e r c e p t i o n s o f h i s o r h e r f r i e n d s ' s a t i s f a c t i o n w i t h l i f e . U s i n g t h e a n s w e r s

PREVALENCE OF SOCIALLY UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR AMONG HIGH SCHOOL STITDENTS I N BERKSHIRE COUNTY, 1979

( 1 ) These q u e s t i o n s were d e l e t e d i n a number of s c h o o l s a t t h e r e q u e s t of s c h o o l a d m i n i s t r a t o r s . I n t o t a l , t h e s e q u e s t i o n s were i n c l u d e d i n 42.2% of t h e sample;

t h e r e f o r e , c a u t i o n s h o u l d b e e x e r c i s e d i n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n . However, l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e w a s e x h i b i t e d i n o t h e r b e h a v i o r s between t h o s e s t u d e n t s i n t h e t e s t s c h o o l s and t h e o t h e r s . Because of t h i s , we a r e assuming t h e s e f i g u r e s t o b e i n d i c a t i v e of countywide t r e n d s and t h e r e f o r e have i n c l u d e d t h e f i g u r e s . ( 2 ) A s b e f o r e , r e g u l a r u s e is d e f i n e d as u s e a t a once p e r week o r g r e a t e r rate.

BEHAVIOR TYPE:

CHEATIKG ( 1 )

GETTING DRUNK (EVER) USING DRUGS (EVER)

"SKIPPING" SCHOOL

REGULAR DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE ( 2 ) BEING "HIGH" AT SCHOOL

SMOKING CIGARETTES

REGULAR USE OF DRUGS (INCLUDING MARIJUANA) ( 2 ) FIGHTING ( 1 )

VANDALISM ( 1 ) DRUNK DRIVING

STEALING FROM SCHOOL (1) SHOPLIFTING ( 1 )

REGULAR USE OF ALCOHOL (2) BEING DRUNK AT SCHOOL

STEALING FROM ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL ( 1 )

BEING "TAKEN DOWN" TO THE POLICE STATION ( 1 ) DRIVING WHILE "HIGH"

B E I N G CHARGED WITH A CRIME (1)

REGULAR USE OF DRUGS (EXCLUDING MARIJUANA) (2)

% STTJDENTS REPORTING:

79.3 73.5 61.6 53.0 43.9 35.6 32.0 28.8 28.3 28.2 27.5 26.5 25.5 25.0 22.7 21.4 1 8 . 9 1 7 . 3 14.3 4 . 1

L

FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY 1979

REPORTED DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE AMONG FRIENDS OF SURVEYED H I G H SCHOOL STUDENTS

- - -

FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY 1979

SOURCE OF DRUGS FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS REPORTING DRUG USE

% STUDENTS REPORTING DRUG USE

AMONG FRIENDS 23.6 4 3 . 3 26.4

6.7 1 0 0

.o

/

NUMBER OF FRIENDS NONE A FEW MOST ALL TOTAL

FOR BERKSHIRE COUNTY 1979

% STUDENTS REPORTING DRINKING

AMONG FRIENDS 3.2 26.2 48.7 21.9 1 0 0 . 0

SOURCE : SIBLINGS FRIENDS

PEERS WHO ARE NOT FRIENDS DRUG "PUSHERS"

DOCTORS STOLEN

MULTIPLE SOURCE TOTAL

STUDENT KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS

% OF STUDENTS WPORTING:

2 . 2 5 5 . 4 10.9 1 . 5 1.5 0.4 28.1 1 0 0 . 0

. - - STUDENT RESPONSES :

NONE ARE AVAILABLE

DON' T KNOW IF DRUGS ARE AVAILABLE MARIJUANA ONLY I S AVAILABLE

MAR1 JUANA, ACID, & PILLS ARE AVAILABLE EVERYTHING INCLUDING HERO I N I S AVAILABLE TOTAL

% STUDENTS REPORTING:

1.8 20.0 1 4 . 0 39.2 2 5 . 0 1 0 0 . 0

t o t h e s e q u e s t i o n s w e w e r e a b l e t o c o n s t r u c t a c r u d e s c a l e o f

I t d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n . " When w e e x a m i n e d p a t t e r n s o f d r u g u s e a c r o s s

t h i s s c a i e o f d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n w e f o u n d t h a t t h e y w e r e h i g h l y

r e l a t e d w i t 5 a s t r o n g d i r e c t i o n a l t e n d e n c y . We f o u n d t h a t a s l i f e s a t i s f z c t i o a d e c r e a s e d , t h e t e n d e n c y w a s f o r d r u g u s e t o i n c r e a s e i n i t s i n t e n s i t y ( s e e b e l o w ) .

FOR BERKSBIRE COUNK, 1979

PATlrELUS OF DRGC VSE ACCO~1I:G TO OF S.4TISFACTION m N G BICd SCLiOOL S T U D m S

TOTAL h' equals 517; no m i s s i n g cases

CiI SQUARE e q u a l s 49.95, significant at 0.05 level PATTERN OF

DRUG USE

I - -

ri3 D S G L'SE

IhTREQbZKi Ahp/

OR EC?LREEXTAL USE

R E G W USE OF KAUJUANA LXD/OR ALC3HW" OhXY

3EuTLA.R USE OF OTHER DRUGS

TOTAL

We a l s o c o l l e c t e d i n f o r m a t i o n o n t y p e s o f n i s S e h a v i o r o t h e r t h a n d r u g u s e . U n f o r t u n a t e l y , m a n y o f t h e s e q u e s t i o n s w e r e d e l e t e d f o r n o r e t h a n h a l f o u r s a m p l e a t t h e r e q u e s t o f s c h o o l a d m i n i s - t r a t o r s a s t h e y w e r e s e e n t o b e o f t o o p e r s o n a l a n a t u r e . H o w e v e r , t h e r e were a n u m b e r o f q u e s t i o n s t h a t w e r e g i v e n t o t h e e n t i r e

s a m p l e . T h e s e p e r t a i n e d t o s u c h t h i n g s a s r u n n i n g a f o u l o f t h e l a w , g e t t i n g i n t o t r o u b l e a t s c h o o l , s k i p p i n g s c h o o l a n d d r i v i n g u n d e r v ~ r i o u s s t a t e s o f i n t o x i c a t i o n . A s w i t h " d i s s a t i s f a c t i o n t t we

c o n s t r u c t e d a s c a l e u s i n g t h o s e q u e s t i o n s t h a t w e c a l l e d " p r o p e n s i t y

Z Sn3EKTS REPORTIKG DISSATISFACTIOI WITH LIFE

LOW

10.0

11.1

8.0

29.3

B I G i

3.9

7 . 2

8.1

0.7

19.9 XODERATE

7.5

11 - 6

15.2

1.2

35.5

VERY ZSGi TOTAL

2.2 23.6

2.6

8.5

X.5

39.8

2 .O

15.3

4 .l

100.3

f o r g e c t i n g i n t o . t r o u b l e . " O u r c o m p a r i s o n o f t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h

? a t t e r n s o f d r u g u s e p r o d u c e d e x t r e m e l y s i m i l a r r e s u l t s t o t h o s e a b o v e . T h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h i s v a r i a b l e a n d d r u g use p a t t e r n s

~ 7 3 . s e x t r e m e l y s i g n i f i c a n t a n d a g a i n , t h e r e w a s a d i r e c t i o n a l

t e n d e n c y . A s t h e p r o p e n s i t y f o r g s t t i n g i n t o t r o u b l e i n c r e a s e d , s o d i d t h e i n t e n s i t y o f d r u g u s e ( s e e b e l o w ) .

FOR BERKSXIRE COUNTY. 1979

PATTERNS OF DRUG USE ACCORDltiG TO PROPENSITY TO GET INTO TIOUBLE AMONG HIGH SCl?OOL STUDENTS

.

-

TOTAL N e q u a l s 517; no missing c a s e s

CXI SQUARE e q u a l s 1 0 2 . 4 5 , s i g n i f i c a n t a t 0 . 0 5 l e v e l

r

PA?ZERN OF DRUG USE

I

^{m mIic v n}

I:i'FFZ~iE!?T IVID/OR

1

W E R X E l I T A t USE.

) U S

E MA.USZAUb

W D / O R XLGOilOL OHLY

-

RECCLAR USE OF OTHER DRUGS

f 0T.A.L

!

F i n a l l y , w e e x a m i n e d p a t t e r n s o f < r u g u s e a g a i n s t m a r k s i n s c h o o l . A g a i n t h e r e w a s a h i g h l y s i g n i f i c a n t r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d a d i r e c t i o n a l t e n d e n c y . A s g r a d e s d e c r e a s e d , t h e i n t e n s i t y o f d r u g u s e t e n z e d t o i n c r e a s e ( s e e p a g e 1 5 ) .

SNDEhTS REF'OaTXNG

-

PROPENSITY TO CET INTO TROUBLE VERY LO'd

4 . 8

7 . 8

7 .

0.0

20.3

LOU

1 s

.o

16.3

HODERATE

3 . 0

6 . 3

HICA

0 . 6

1 . 8

1 3 . 1

0 . 3

4 5 . 0

6.7

0 . 9

1 0 . 0 10.3

1.9

21.5

VERY RICB

0 . 1

0 . 4

TOT&

23.5

3 2 . 6

1.7

1 . 0

3 . 2

39.8

4 . 1

LOO. 0

FOR BERKSHIRE CQU?TY, 1979

.

..

PATTERNS OF DRUG USE ACOORDTNC M WRXS I N samot

FOR H I G H SQIOOL STUDENIS

TOTAL N equals 514; 3 missing cases

QII SQUARE equals 4 5 . 6 7 , significant a t 0.05 l e v e l

1

!AiTI;wSOPDRUCUSE

119 DhLK USZ

I

i

IXilruplLY1' ANDlOR LY2E'kDEiiTht 35E

I---

j E"ulJl,L? 3% Y i J U A N A A.?VblOY ALrnliOL ONLY

I ---

A s c a n b e s e e n f r o m a b o v e , d r u g a b u s e i s h i g h l y r e l a t e d t o o t h e z l i f e d i f f i c u l t i e s i n h i g h s c h o o i s t u d e n t s . H o w e v e r , c a u t i o n s h o u i d b e u s e d i n i n t e r p r e t i n g t h i s d a t a ' . T h e s t a t i s t i c a l t e s t s u e n s e d d o n o t e s t a b l i s h a n y c a u s a l l i n k b e t w e e n d r u g u s e a n d t h e c t ' t ? ~ : v a r i a b l e s e x a m i n e d . I t w o u l d b e j u s t a s f a l s e t o a s s u m e f r o m t:ils d e t t t h a t d r u g a b u s e i s t h e c a u s e f o r l o w g r a d e s , a p r o p e n s i t y t c g e t i n t o t r o u b l e o r u n h a p p i n e s s a s i t w o u l d b e t o a s s u m e t h a t 1 c V g r a d e s a r e t h e c a u s e ' o f d r u g a b u s e . I t i s s a f e t o a s s u m e , h o u e v e r , t h a t a n a d o l e s c e n t who i s e x p e r i e n c i n g d i f f i c u l t y i n t h e o t h e r p a r t s o f h i s o r h e r l i f e I s l i k e l y t o b e a l s o e x p e r i e n c i n g t h e d r a g p r o b l e m . O r , f o r t h a t m a t t e r , t h e a d o l e s c e n t who s u c c e s s - f u l l y d e a i s w i t h l i f e w i l l p r o b a b l y n o t h a v e d i f f i c u l t y w i t h d r u g s , e v e n t h o u g h h e o r s h e n a y b e e x h i b i t i n g s o m e d r u g t a k i n g b e h a v i o r .

T h e s e d a t a , a n d o u r e x p e r i e n c e , show u s t h a t d r u g a b u s e 2mong a d o l e s c e n t s i s r a r e l y a s i n g u l a r p r o b l e m . ' R a t h e r , i t i s a s y m p t o m o r p a ~ t o f a c o n s t e l l a t i o n o f p r o b l e m s t h a t a n a d o l e s c e n t i s e x p e r - i e n c i n g . O u r e x p e r i e n c e a l s o s h o w s t h a t z n y a t t e m p t s t o r e c t i f y d r u g a b u s e t h a t d o n o t t a k e t h i s i n t o a c c o u n t w i l l p r o b a b l y n o t s u c c e e d .

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- O n e m e t h o d o f m e a s u r e m e n t i s c o m p a r i s o n . I n 1 9 7 5 , t h e D i v i s i o n o f D r a g R e h a b i l i t a t i o n c o n d u c t e d a s u r v e y o f t h e s a n e n a t u r e o n a s t a t e w i d e b a s i s . I n c l u d e d i n t h a t s u r v e y w a s o n e c o m n u n i t p i n

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E e r k s h i r e C o u n t y w h i c h w a s a l s o s a m p l e d i n o u r 1 9 7 9 s t u d y . U s i n g t . h c d a t a f r o m t h e 1 9 7 5 s u r v e y a s a b e n c h m a r k f o r c o m p a r i s o n , w e f o u n d a n i n t e r e s t i n g p i c t u r e ( s e e b e l o w ) .

-BerkrhLte County, 1979

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P E Z 3 C Y C L I D I E was n o t t ~ e a t e d a s a s c c a r a t c catego?, in 1975.

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of t h e S t a t e v i d e 1975 Sample. The s i m i l a r i c y of t h e sampling methods f3 t h e NO s t u d i e s (1979 and 1975) a l l o w comparison; however, d i f f e r e n c e s i n sampling parameters, and t h e r e f o r e sampling e r r o r , do n o t allw z e s t s f o r statistical. significance.

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I t s h o u l d b e n o t e d t h a t t h e i n c r e a s e s i n a l c o h o l a n d m a r i j u a n a u s a g e c a n b e d e s c r i b e d a s s l i g h t . T h e r a t h e r s h a r p i n c r e a s e s i n i n h a l a n t u s a g e f i t s t h e n a t i o n w i d e p a t t e r n o f i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a r i t y o f t h e s e s u b s t a n c e s w h i c h i n f a c t a r e n o t d r u g s u n d e r a n y c l i n i c a l o r l e g a l d e f i n i t i o n . T h e m o s t p o p u l a r o f t h e s e , b u t y l n i t r a t e , i s s o l d o v e r - t h e - c o u n t e r u n d e r v a r i o u s t r a d e n a m e s a n d g o e s b y t h e s t r e e t n a m e s o f " l o c k e r r o o m " a n d " r u s h . "

T h e o n l y o t h e r d i f f e r e n c e w e f o u n d w a s t h e p r e s e n c e o f p h e n - c y c l i d i n e o r PCP, m o s t commonly c a l l e d " a n g e l d u s t " o n t h e s t r e e t . T h i s i s o f s o m e c o n c e r n a s PCP i s a v e r y d a n g e r o u s d r u g . A s s t a t e d a b o v e , t h e u s e o f t h i s d r u g w a s e x t r e m e l y uncommon i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s u n t i l v e r y r e c e n t l y . O u r e x a m i n a t i o n o f o t h e r i n d i c a t o r s h a s s h o w n t h a t t h e e p i d e m i o l o g i c a l p a t t e r n f o r t h i s d r u g h a s b e e n a d r a m a t i c a n d s h o r t - l i v e d i n c r e a s e i n i t s u s a g e , f o l l o w e d b y a n e q u a l l y

d r a m a t i c d e c r e a s e . I n M a s s a c h u s e t t s t h i s d r u g h a s e x h i b i t e d i t s e l f a s a " f a d d r u g " w h i c h r a p i d l y g a i n s t h e b a d s t r e e t r e p u t a t i o n i t s o r i c h l y d e s e r v e s , t h e r e b y l e a d i n g t o d i m i n i s h e d p o p u l a r i t y . T h e p r e v a l e n c e o f i t s u s a g e i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y i s a t r e n d w e l l w o r t h w a t c h i n g c l o s e l y .

F o r t u n a t e l y , w e a l s o h a d d a t a f r o m B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y f o r 1 9 7 5 t o i n c l u d e i n o u r c o m p a r i s o n . A s i n f o r m a t i o n w a s c o l l e c t e d f r o m o n e p a r t i c u l a r B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y c o m m u n i t y i n b o t h s u r v e y s a n d as t h i s c o m m u n i t y c a n b e s a f e l y d e s c r i b e d a s t y p i c a l , w e f e l t t h a t t h i s c o m p a r i s o n w a s a v a l i d o n e a n d o n e w e l l w o r t h m a k i n g . A s w i t h t h e c o m p a r i s o n a b o v e , t h e r e s u l t s a r e r e m a r k a b l y s i m i l a r . T h e o n l y d i f f e r e n c e s t h a t c o u l d n o t b e e x p l a i n e d b y s a m p l i n g e r r o r w e r e t h e a p p a r e n t i n c r e a s e i n i n h a l a n t s a n d d e c r e a s e i n t h e u s a g e o f

a m p h e t a m i n e s . N e i t h e r o f t h e s e t r e n d s c a n b e d e s c r i b e d a s u n e x p e c t e d . A s s t a t e d a b o v e , t h e u s e o f i n h a l a n t s i s i n c r e a s i n g l y p o p u l a r n a t i o n - w i d e a n d . b y t h e same t o k e n a m p h e t a m i n e s h a v e s h o w n a s l i g h t a n d

c o n t i n u i n g d e c r e a s e i n p o p u l a r i t y .

M o r e i m p o r t a n t t h a n a n y o n e t o o n e c o m p a r i s o n f o r a n y p a r t i c u l a r d r u g i s t h e f a c t t h a t t h e two s e t s o f d a t a p r e s e n t a s t r i k i n g l y s i m i l a r o v e r a l l p i c t u r e . T h i s l e a d s t o t h e c o n c l u s i o n t h a t t h e

" d r u g p r o b l e m " i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y h a s n o t c h a n g e d s i g n i f i c a n t l y i n f o u r y e a r s . O t h e r t h a n t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s p a t t e r n o f b e h a v i o r i s n o t new t o B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y , t h i s m o s t p r o b a b l y m e a n s t h a t d r u g u s e among h i g h s c h o o l s t u d e n t s i s e n d e m i c r a t h e r t h a n e p i d e m i c . P u t i n o t h e r t e r m s , t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p a t t e r n o f b e h a v i o r i s f i r m l y e s t a b l i s h e d w i t h i n t h e a d o l e s c e n t s u b c u l t u r e a n d u n l i k e l y t o c h a n g e d r a m a t i c a l l y , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f " f a d " d r u g s s u c h a s t h e i n h a l a n t s a n d PCP, i n e i t h e r d i r e c t i o n w i t h o u t o u t s i d e i n t e r v e n t i o n . T h e i d e a t h a t

B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y i s o r h a s b e e n s a f e h a v e n f r o m t h i s p r o b l e m i s a m y t h . A t t h e s a m e t i m e , s o i s t h e i d e a t h a t B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y i s e x p e r i e n c i n g a d r a m a t i c i n c r e a s e i n d r u g u s e among i t s y o u n g p e o p l e .

I n c o n c l u s i o n t h e n , a d o l e s c e n t d r u g u s a g e i n B e r k s h i r e C o u n t y i s w e l l w i t h i n t h e t y p i c a l p a t t e r n s o f t h i s b e h a v i o r i n M a s s a c h u s e t t s . E x p e r i m e n t a t i o n w i t h a l c o h o l a n d m a r i j u a n a i s w i d e s p r e a d a n d t h e s e a r e t h e o n l y d r u g s u s e d r e g u l a r l y w i t h a n y p r e v a l e n c e . T h e h a r d e r d r u g s a r e u s e d b y a s m a l l e r s u b s e t o f t h e a d o l e s c e n t s a n d t h e s e a r e u s e d l a r g e l y e x p e r i m e n t a l l y o r o n a n o c c a s s i o n a l b a s i s . M o s t o f t h e

u s a g e c a n n o t b e t e c h n i c a l l y t e r m e d a b u s e , a l t h o u g h i t i s a b e h a v i o r t h a t c a r r i e s w i t h i t r i s k , a n d t h e r e f o r e i s o f s o m e c o n c e r n . O n l y a s m a l l p r o p o r t i o n o f t h e a d o l e s c e n t p o p u l a t i o n u s e s h a r d d r u g s o n a r e g u l a r b a s i s a n d t h e s e a r e t h e a d o l e s c e n t s who a r e m o s t p r o b a b l y e x p e r i e n c i n g d i f f i c u l t y i n t h e o t h e r f a c e t s o f t h e i r l i f e .