Drug Availability and Drug-Related Discipline Incidents at US Public Schools

"In the United States, the purchase or public possession of alcohol anywhere is illegal until age 21, except in the company of a parent or legal-age spouse in certain states. Adolescent alcohol use is associated with various negative educational and health outcomes (French and Maclean 2006; Mason et al. 2010; Schilling et al. 2009). The percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported using alcohol on at least 1 day during the previous 30 days decreased from 42 to 29 percent between 2009 and 2019. In 2019, the percentage of students in grades 9–12 who reported using alcohol on at least 1 day during the previous 30 days 

"• was lower for male students than for female students (26 vs. 32 percent; figure 12); 

"• was lower for Asian students (14 percent) and Black students (17 percent) than for students of all other racial/ethnic groups; 

"• was lower for heterosexual students (29 percent) and students who were not sure about their sexual identity (25 percent) than for gay, lesbian, or bisexual students (34 percent); and • increased with grade level. (Students’ Use of Alcohol)

"The YRBSS asked students in grades 9–12 about their current use of marijuana anywhere as well as the availability of illegal drugs on school property. In 2019, about 22 percent of students in grades 9–12 reported using marijuana at least 1 time during the previous 30 days; the percentage of students who reported that someone had offered, sold, or given them an illegal drug on school property in the previous 12 months was also 22 percent in 2019. These percentages were not measurably different from their corresponding percentages in 2009.

"In 2019, student reports of marijuana use and illegal drug availability varied by student characteristics. For instance, an examination of the data on the availability of illegal drugs on school property reveals differences by student race/ethnicity and sexual identity. Specifically, the percentage of students who reported that illegal drugs were offered, sold, or given to them on school property in 2019 was 

"• higher for students of Two or more races (28 percent) and Hispanic students (27 percent) than for Black students (21 percent) and White students (20 percent), all of which were higher than for Asian students (14 percent; figure 13); and 

"• higher for gay, lesbian, or bisexual students (30 percent) than for students who were not sure about their sexual identity (24 percent) and students who were heterosexual (21 percent). (Marijuana Use and Illegal Drug Availability)"