Citation

Lowry R, Cohen LR, Modzeleski W, Kann L, Collins JL, Kolbe LJ. J. Sch. Health 1999; 69(9): 347-355.

Affiliation

Surveillance Research Section, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA. r.xl1@cdc.gov

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

10633319

Abstract

To determine if school violence is associated with substance use and availability of illegal drugs at school, this study examined data from the 1995 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a nationally representative sample of 10,904 high school students. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated to describe the associations of tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana use (on and off school property), and availability of illegal drugs at school with five indicators of school violence--weapon-carrying, physical fighting, having property stolen or damaged, being threatened or injured, and being absent from school because of feeling unsafe. School violence indicators increased with the number of substances used and the location of use (on school property vs. off school property). School violence was associated with availability of illegal drugs at school, even among students who did not use substances. These findings suggest a need for coordinated violence and substance use prevention programs for youth in school and community settings.

Language: en