(30.2%) did not drink beer, the most commonly used substance. Likewise, 30.5% reported that they had never been high or intoxicated from alcohol or drugs. If all 11th grade students, including those over age 16, are included, 34% reported that they had never been intoxicated from alcohol. Finally, responses to questions on prevention education summarized below revealed that 318. responded that they were not affected by such classes because they had already decided on their own not to use alcohol or drugs, more evidence of intrinsic

motivation.

Ninth and 11th grade students were asked whether they had taken school classes on each of 5 models of prevention education.

Information about alco

hol and drugs and health and safety were cited by the largest proportion of students (50% to 65% at the two grade levels). Learning refusal skills (how to say "no" when under social pressure to drink or use) was reported by 44% of 9th and 42% of 11th grade students. Setting personal goals and decision making was reported by similar proportions of students.

Alternatives to drug

and alcohol use was checked by about 25% at both grade levels.

Twenty-six percent of 9th and 22% of 11th grade students had not taken any drug or alcohol education during their current school year. Ratings of the quality of prevention classes were moderately positive. When asked what they had learned in prevention classes, 38% of 9th and 46% of 11th grade students indicated they had gained information or knowledge about drugs and alcohol. From 29% to 41% at both grade levels had learned to avoid or reduce drug or alcohol use, how to resist pressure to drink or use, to avoid dangerous forms of drug use, and to avoid driving under the influence.

Average scores on total alcohol and marijuana use were compared for students who "had" vs. "had not" taken each of the 5 types of prevention

education.

There was no consistent pattern of differences for 9th grade stu-
However, 11th grade students who had taken each

dents for either substance.

of the 5 types of prevention, in virtually all comparisons, reported significantly less alcohol and marijuana use than those who had not. While these results support the effectiveness of prevention at grade 11, they are at best suggestive rather than definitive, since causation cannot be established with

these data.

The 6 regions from which the sample was drawn were compared for total alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and inhalant use. The results show that these substances were used in all regions, although some differences did exist. In particular, the 3 large metropolitan regions did not prove to have the highest levels of use as might have been expected. In several cases, the Northern Region reported significantly higher levels of use than at least some other regions for alcohol and marijuana at both the 9th and 11th grades.

Comparisons between the 6 ethnic classifications were also made for

the same 4 substances. In general, American Indian and White students reported the highest levels of substance use. Asian students were consistently lowest, with Blacks and Hispanics typically falling between the other groups. This pattern applies primarily to alcohol and marijuana use where significant ethnic differences were most frequently observed for both 9th and 11th grade students.

Rodney Skager

April 28, 1986

(1) In FY 82-83 Federal funding reduced by approximately $2,400,000.
(2) To meet Federal mandate that 20% of Block Grant funding be allocated for prevention (inclusive of early
intervention services), funding in excess of $600,000 was converted from outpatient services to early intervention.
(3) Effective January 1, 1983, MIA funding for 148 outpatient methadone detoxification slots was implemented in
accordance with transfer of MIA funding to county administration.

(4) Reflects transfer of 5 county funding prevention programs to AB 2086 funding and jurisdiction of alcohol program
administration.

(5) In FY 82-83 effort began to meet 20% Block Grant mandate for prevention funding with conversion of four contract
programs from outpatient to early intervention services.

(6) FY 83-84 increase over FY 82-83 of six methadone maintenance slots primarily due to utilization of Short-Doyle/ Medical funding.

FY 81-82 was the last year that drug abuse received a cost-of-living allocation from the state while Federal funding has been reduced and inflationary factors still continue.

FY 81-82 was the last year that drug abuse received a cost-of-living allocation from the state while Federal funding has been reduced and inflationary factors still continue.