ABC News/Washington Post Drug Poll, February 1997

This special topic poll, conducted February 20-24, 1997,
solicited responses from parents and their teenage children, aged
12-17, on the topic of illegal drug use among America's youth. One
parent and one child from each household were asked a series of
questions covering illegal drugs, violence in school, underage
drinking, academic challenges, and parent-child communication.
Respondents were asked to assess their understanding of the presence
of drugs and drug users in their local schools, throughout the
community, across the nation, among the teen's peer group, and within
their own family. A series of topics covered the availability and
effectiveness of school-sponsored anti-drug programs. Parents were
asked how their possible past and present use and/or experimentation
with marijuana and other illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco products
influenced the manner in which they approached drug use with their own
children. Teenage respondents were asked for their reaction to the use
of drugs and alcohol by their friends, the seriousness of the
contemporary drug problem, and whether they believed that their
parents had used or experimented with illegal drugs. Other questions
asked about teenage respondents' plans after high school and whether
they attended a public or private school. Demographic variables for
parental respondents included age, race, sex, education level,
household income, political party affiliation, and type of residential
area (e.g., urban or rural). Demographic variables for teenage
respondents included age, race, sex, residential area, and grade level
in school.