Introduction
The use of alcohol and illicit drugs among middle and high school students, in particular marijuana, has been increasing in Rhode Island and throughout the nation. Furthermore, this increase has been accompanied by a decrease in the perceived risks of drug use, despite studies showing that drug use can lead to addiction, mood disorders, and reduced long-term cognitive function.
This story compares student use of alcohol, marijuana, cigarettes, and other substances in Barrington public schools by grade. Substance use is examined in three different ways:
- Age of first use
- Frequency of use over the last 30 days
- Frequency of use over the student’s lifetime
For frequency measures, tobacco products are reported separately to accommodate the difference in how their use is measured (for example: 10 cigarettes, half a pack/per day).
NOTE: All figures are self-reported estimates of substance use.
