National Survey Results on Drug Use from the Monitoring the Future Study, 1975-1997. Volume 1: Secondary School Students.

The high school portion of the "Monitoring the Future Study" is presented. Since 1975, this national survey has helped to quantify, track, characterize, and explain changes in drug prevalence, attitudes, and behaviors among American high school students. Data are reported in graphs and statistical tables for eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade students. An introduction to the survey, overview of key findings, research design and procedures, and discussions of reliability and validity issues are provided. Prevalence data for 1997 is presented and subgroup differences in gender, college plans, regions, population density, parental education, and racial or ethnic differences are compared. Data on trends are presented and the subgroups are compared. Chapters include: "Use at Earlier Grade Levels,""Degree and Duration of Drug Highs,""Attitudes and Beliefs about Drugs," and "The Social Milieu." The use of nonprescription stimulants and daily use of marijuana are included under "Other Findings." Appendixes are: (1) "Prevalence and Trend Estimates Adjusted for Absentees and Dropouts"; (2) "Definition of Background and Demographic Subgroups"; (3) "Estimation of Sampling Errors; Supplemental Tables for Secondary School Students: Trends by Subgroup"; (4) "Trends in Prevalence Rates for Specific Drugs within General Classes, Tabular Data for 1996." (EMK)