Comparison of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drug use among students and delinquents in the Bahamas.

Surveys of drug use were conducted among 4,767 junior and senior high school students in 1987 and 74 incarcerated delinquents in 1988 in the Bahamas. It was found that the majority of both groups reported having drunk alcohol, and substantial proportions had also smoked tobacco, although over twice as many delinquents as students had smoked. However, use of illicit drugs was far more common among delinquents, at seven times the student rate for marijuana and six times their rate for cocaine. Many social and demographic similarities were found among users in both groups, who were likely to be males who had trouble in school or did not attend school, were not religiously active, and came from families where drugs were used or sold. Over one-third of the delinquents had sold drugs, but almost half (44%) of the delinquents and 25% of the students said they would use or sell marijuana or cocaine if they had it. The results of the studies point to the need for increased drug education in the Bahamas and for efforts involving schools, churches, parents, the media, and Government.