In 2003, 29 percent of all students in grades 9-12 reported that someone had offered, sold, or given them an illegal drug on school property in the 12 months before the survey.

The availability of drugs on school property has a disruptive and corrupting influence on the school environment (Nolin et al. 1997). In the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, students in grades 9-12 were asked whether someone had offered, sold, or given them an illegal drug on school property in the 12 months before the survey. In 2003, 29 percent of all students in grades 9-12 reported that drugs were made available to them on school property (table 19.1). The percentage of students who reported that drugs were made available to them on school property increased from 24 percent in 1993 to 32 percent in 1995. However, no consistent patterns of increase or decrease were found in the percentage of students who had reported that drugs were made available to them from 1995 to 2003, with between 29 and 32 percent of students reporting that this occurred in each survey year.

Males were more likely than females to report that drugs were offered, sold, or given to them on school property in each survey year (figure 19.1 and table 19.1). For example, in 2003, 32 percent of males reported the availability of drugs, while 25 percent of females did so. No differences were detected in the percentage of students who reported that drugs were made available to them according to grade (figure 19.2 and table 19.1).

Students' racial/ethnic backgrounds were examined in relation to whether they reported having illegal drugs offered, sold, or given to them on school property. In 2003, Hispanic students were more likely than Asian, Black, and White students to report that drugs were made available to them (37 percent vs. between 23 and 28 percent).

This indicator has been updated to include 2003 data.