Past Month, by Alcohol 4.9% 15.3% 23.9% 39.9% 49.4% Perceived Marijuana 0.3% 1.3% 3.6% 10.2% 20.7% Availability: Cocaine 0.1% 0.2% 0.8% 2.9% 5.4% 1992 Crack 0.0% 0.1% 0.6% 0.8% 1.7% Table 14 Percent of Hallucinogens 0.1% 0.1% 1.2% 4.8% 8.2% Secondary Students Who Think Substances Are Very Dangerous to 1988 to 26 percent in 1990 and 1992. The numbers were almost the same between Use: 1990 and 1992 1988 and 1992 for crack and hallucinogens. substance use is closely related to the availability of such substances. Students’ in 1988. The For example, 49 percent of all students who said alcohol was very easy to get percentage of all actually drank alcohol during the previous month (Table 13). By contrast, only 15 students who percent of those who said alcohol was very difficult to get drank in the past month. said cocaine was The current prevalence of marijuana was about 21 percent for the students who very or thought marijuana was very easy to obtain, compared to only 1 percent for those somewhat easy who felt that it was very difficult to obtain. to obtain The relationship consistently holds for cocaine, crack, and decreased from hallucinogens. 30 percent in responses range from to at all Table “very dangerous” “not dangerous.” Perceived 14 presents the percentage of all secondary school students in 1990 and 1992 who Danger thought various substances were very dangerous to use. The percentage was higher The survey asked in 1992 for every substance except crack. Although there was a much higher students how proportion of students in 1992 who thought alcohol was very dangerous than in dangerous they 1990 (50 percent compared to thought it was for 37 percent), alcohol is still thought to be the least threatening substance to users. In 1992, kids their age to use substances. The
Past Month, by Perceived Availability: 1992 Table 14 Percent of Secondary Students Alcohol 4.9% 15.3% 23.9% 39.9% 49.4% Marijuana 0.3% 1.3% 3.6% 10.2% 20.7% Cocaine 0.1% 0.2% 0.8% 2.9% 5.4% Crack 0.0% 0.1% 0.6% 0.8% 1.7% Hallucinogens 0.1% 0.1% 1.2% 4.8% 8.2% Who Think Substances Are Very Dangerous to Use: 1990 and 1992 in 1988. The percentage of all students who said cocaine was very or somewhat easy to obtain decreased from 30 percent in 1988 to 26 percent in 1990 and 1992. The numbers were almost the same between 1988 and 1992 for crack and hallucinogens. Students’ substance use is closely related to the availability of such substances. For example, 49 percent of all students who said alcohol was very easy to get actually drank alcohol during the previous month (Table 13). By contrast, only 15 percent of those who said alcohol was very difficult to get drank in the past month. The current prevalence of marijuana was about 21 percent for the students who thought marijuana was very easy to obtain, compared to only 1 percent for those who felt that it was very difficult to obtain. The relationship consistently holds for cocaine, crack, and hallucinogens. Perceived Danger The survey asked students how dangerous they thought it was for kids their age to use substances. The responses range from “very dangerous” to “not at all dangerous.” Table 14 presents the percentage of all secondary school students in 1990 and 1992 who thought various substances were very dangerous to use. The percentage was higher in 1992 for every substance except crack. Although there was a much higher proportion of students in 1992 who thought alcohol was very dangerous than in 1990 (50 percent compared to 37 percent), alcohol is still thought to be the least threatening substance to users. In 1992,
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