about the dangerousness of the various substances. For example, in grade seven, 14 percent of the students did not know how their parents felt about their drinking beer; by grade twelve, only 6 per- cent did not know. This increase in the understanding of parental attitudes may well be due to students’ the fact that as the students age, their parents have to confront substance use by their children and must make their views known. Based on the survey data from 1988 to 1994, it seems that parents have become more clear in expressing their attitudes toward substance use. In 1988, 18 percent of the secondary students did not know how their parents felt about kids their age drinking beer, compared to only 9-10 percent of those during About 11 percent of the students in 1988 were not sure of their atti- tudes toward marijuana use, compared to 7-8 parents’ percent in 1990-1994. In all four surveys between 1988 and 1994, a higher percentage of seventh and eighth graders did not know what From the survey their attitudes were about substance use in comparison to parents’ data, it seems that juniors and seniors. The percentage of secondary students who said parents have become their parents strongly disapproved of beer drinking ranged from 52 clearer in expressing percent to 60 percent between 1988 and 1994; for marijuana use, their attitudes about the range was 82 percent to substance use. For 87 percent. example, about 11 The differences in the perceptions of parental attitudes percent of the from students in 1988 1988 to 1994 may contribute to the changes in substance use were not sure of their among secondary students. For example, the trends in parental attitudes parents’ disapproval of toward marijuana use, compared to 7-8 Figure 5.7. Trends in Parental Disapproval and Annual Use of percent in 1990- Marijuana Among Seniors: 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994 100% 90% 80% 70% Parental 60% 30% Annual 50% 20% Use 40% 1994. Disapproval 10%
about the dangerousness of the various substances. For example, in grade seven, 14 percent of the students did not know how their parents felt about their drinking beer; by grade twelve, only 6 per- cent did not know. This increase in the students’ understanding of parental attitudes may well be due to the fact that as the students age, their parents have to confront substance use by their children and must make their views known. Based on the survey data from 1988 to 1994, it seems that parents have become more clear in expressing their attitudes toward substance use. In 1988, 18 percent of the secondary students did not know how their parents felt about kids their age drinking beer, compared to only 9-10 percent of those during About 11 percent of the students in 1988 were not sure of their parents’ atti- tudes toward marijuana use, compared to 7-8 percent in 1990-1994. In all four surveys between 1988 and 1994, a higher percentage of seventh and eighth graders did not know what their parents’ attitudes were about substance use in comparison to juniors and seniors. The percentage of secondary students who said their parents strongly disapproved of beer drinking ranged from 52 percent to 60 percent between 1988 and 1994; for marijuana use, the range was 82 percent to 87 percent. The differences in the perceptions of parental attitudes from 1988 to 1994 may contribute to the changes in substance use among secondary students. For example, the trends in parental disapproval of Figure 5.7. Trends in Parental Disapproval and Annual Use of Marijuana Among Seniors: 1988, 1990, 1992, and 1994 100% 90% 80% 70% Parental From the survey data, it seems that parents have become clearer in expressing their attitudes about substance use. For example, about 11 percent of the students in 1988 were not sure of their parents’ attitudes toward marijuana use, compared to 7-8 percent in 1990- 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% Disapproval Annual Use 1994. 10%