Drug Testing in Schools: Attitudes of High School Students

<p>This research investigation examined high school students' attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs, and examined the extent to which those attitudes vary according to gender, grade, ethnicity, exposure to experiences related to a drug testing program, illegal drug use, alcohol use, and involvement in extracurricular activities at school. The results of this exploratory study are intended to help school administrators and counselors have an increased understanding of high school students' attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs. The participants in this study were drawn from a convenience sample comprised of high school students in grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 at a co-educational, parochial school located in the metropolitan New Orleans, Louisiana area during the 2002-2003 school year. Each participant completed survey packets which contained the Attitudes Toward High School Drug Testing (ATSDT) survey and personal demographic data. The results of this study indicated that high school students generally have neutral attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs. There appear to be significant statistical differences between high school students' attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs based on their gender, grade, ethnicity, exposure to experiences related to a drug testing program, illegal drug use, and alcohol use; however, students' involvement in extracurricular activities at school was not related to their attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs. This information may be used to assist school administrators and school counselors in designing drug-free schools that engender respect and approval from the greatest possible number of students, faculty, and public, and provide needed information for school counselors in providing drug related prevention services, interventions, and after-care to adolescents</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Foundations

Year

2003

Author dc:creator

• Mason, Kimberly

Contributors dc:contributor

• McCollum, Vivian
• Casler, Robert C.
• Christensen, Teresa

• school
• drug testing
• attitudes
• high school students

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/23

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarworks.uno.edu:td-1022