New Report Reveals Rapidly Increasing Levels of Drug Infestation in Our Schools

Each fall, most parents buy their children new shoes, clothes and school supplies, then send their kids off to school with the hopes that an adequate education will result. A new survey published by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University shows that too many of our children are getting all dressed up to attend classes in a den of drugs and alcohol.

The new survey, published in August 2007, reports that more and more children in middle and high schools are seeing drugs used, seeing other kids who are drunk or high, and are seeing drugs bought and sold on their school campuses. Since 2002, 39 percent more high school students and 63 percent more middle school students attend schools where drugs are clearly present. Just since 2006, these percentages have increased 20 percent for high school students and 35 percent for middle school students.

Students who attend schools in which drugs and alcohol are present are ten times more likely to abuse prescription drugs, four and a half times likelier to use marijuana, and nine times likelier to use one of the other illegal drugs. The CASA report cited a June 2007 report from the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities Advisory Committee, under the U.S. Department of Education, that stated, “If students are using drugs or alcohol (or are surrounded by others that do) ... there is a greatly diminished opportunity for them to benefit from their schooling.”

“It’s important for parents to know what their children are facing in their schools,” stated Ryan Thorpe, Director of Admissions at Narconon Arrowhead, one of the country’s leading drug and alcohol rehabilitation and education centers in Canadian, Oklahoma. “When parents are informed, they are more able to take appropriate and effective action. Students must be educated on the dangers of addiction to marijuana, alcohol and prescription and illicit drugs. And no matter what actions schools take, that education must start at home with frequent, honest and tolerant communication on the subject of drug and alcohol abuse. To help with this task, Narconon Arrowhead is offering parents and other interested people two free booklets to help educate themselves and their children on the problems associated with drug use: 10 Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs and Healing Addicted Lives.”

The entirely of the report National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XII: Teens and Parents from the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is available at http://www.casacolumbia.org.

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