Drug abuse and substance use among seniors at Manalapan High School

Drug Epidemic at Manalapan HS in Manalapan, NJ

In most high schools, drugs are a common rite of passage. As a matter of fact, the problem is so serious that it has reached epidemic levels. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse - NIH (2014), 22.1%, 16.3%, and 22.7% of high school students (seniors) in 2013 admitted to binge drinking, cigarette smoking and marijuana smoking, respectively.

Prescription drugs are also being abused at an alarming rate. For instance, "in 2013, 15.0% of high school seniors used a prescription drug non-medically…" (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014). One of the prescription drugs most abused, as the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2014) further points out, was Adderall. The said prescription drug is used in the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Other commonly abused prescription drugs are products with dextromethorphan as a component and Vicodin.

In a study conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse "about 17% percent of American high school students are drinking, smoking or using drugs during the school day" (Kuczynski-Brown, 2012). Manalapan High School, which forms the basis of this discussion, is one of the affected institutions.

The Institution: In Brief

Established in 1971, Manalapan High School is one of Manalapan Township's public high schools. Essentially, the institution serves learners from the entire Englishtown.

The General Characteristics of the Population

From grade 9 through to 12, the school has a total student population of 2,079. In terms of individual grades, the student population for grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 is 502, 503, 525, and 549 students respectively. With regard to gender, male students make up a total of 53% of the student body, and female students 47%.

Community Boundaries

There are two factors that could, in this case, be used to highlight the boundaries of the identified sub-group. These include perceptions of seniority and group cohesion. It is important to note that being in the senior-most grade in the institution; members feel they deserve more respect. Unlike other grades, the class is also particularly cohesive. The said cohesiveness is caused by, amongst other things, group pride and the similarity of members.

Strengths and Weaknesses

One of the key weaknesses of the sub-group, as would be the case with any other category in the lower grades is peer pressure. The other two weaknesses are; higher reported stress levels, and intense demands from other facets of life. The strengths of the group include; enhanced cohesion, maturity, and greater focus with regard to individual goals and objectives.