Date of Award

5-2003

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Degree Program

Counselor Education

Department

Educational Leadership, Counseling, and Foundations

Major Professor

McCollum, Vivian

Second Advisor

Casler, Robert C.

Third Advisor

Christensen, Teresa

Fourth Advisor

Herlihy, Barbara

Fifth Advisor

Watson, Zarius

Sixth Advisor

Oescher, Jeffrey

Abstract

This research investigation examined high school students' attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs, and examined the extent to which those attitudes vary according to gender, grade, ethnicity, exposure to experiences related to a drug testing program, illegal drug use, alcohol use, and involvement in extracurricular activities at school. The results of this exploratory study are intended to help school administrators and counselors have an increased understanding of high school students' attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs. The participants in this study were drawn from a convenience sample comprised of high school students in grades 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 at a co-educational, parochial school located in the metropolitan New Orleans, Louisiana area during the 2002-2003 school year. Each participant completed survey packets which contained the Attitudes Toward High School Drug Testing (ATSDT) survey and personal demographic data. The results of this study indicated that high school students generally have neutral attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs. There appear to be significant statistical differences between high school students' attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs based on their gender, grade, ethnicity, exposure to experiences related to a drug testing program, illegal drug use, and alcohol use; however, students' involvement in extracurricular activities at school was not related to their attitudes toward drug testing prevention programs. This information may be used to assist school administrators and school counselors in designing drug-free schools that engender respect and approval from the greatest possible number of students, faculty, and public, and provide needed information for school counselors in providing drug related prevention services, interventions, and after-care to adolescents

Rights

The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.

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