Alcohol, tobacco and other drugs: Prevalence of use and abuse among some junior high school and high school special education students

While much attention has been directed toward understanding and responding to alcohol and drug use among young people in general, problems associated with alcohol and drug use and abuse among adolescents and young adults with disabilities have been largely overlooked (Leone, 1991). Recognition of the problems of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use and the implications for education is the first step necessary in the treatment of substance abuse and addiction. Schools must begin to acknowledge that some students receiving special education services, like their nondisabled peers, use and misuse alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Schools must also examine the prevalence of abuse among youth with disabilities and develop specialized prevention and education activities. Educators and prevention specialists can no longer overlook young adults with disabilities.;The purpose of the study was to (a) investigate the incidence and use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs among seventh, ninth and twelfth grade nonspecial education students in the participating district; and (b) examine the incidence and use data for seventh, ninth and twelfth grade special education students in the participating district.;A total of 300 junior and senior high school students participated in the study. Students were divided by grade level and by special education and nonspecial education placement. Each subject completed the New Mexico State Department of Education; Drug Free Schools and Communities Program; Alcohol and Drug Use Survey. The instrument was group-administered to the students and individually-administered to those special education students requiring additional time or assistance.;Results indicated that special education students use alcohol, tobacco and other drugs at a rate that is equal to or greater than nonspecial education students. These rates were most notable for tobacco, smokeless tobacco, alcohol and inhalants. Use of marijuana, cocaine, downers, hallucinogens and steroids by special education students also equaled the use by nonspecial education students. Special education students also reported problem behaviors, being bothered by emotions, high peer use and a binge drinking pattern. Special education students were as likely as nonspecial education students to overestimate peer use for alcohol, marijuana, tobacco and cocaine. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research are discussed.