SCHOOL AND NEIGHBORHOOD CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH SCHOOL RATES OF ALCOHOL, CIGARETTE, AND MARIJUANA USE

Previous research has noted that schools vary in substance use prevale nce rates, but explanations for school differences have received littl e empirical attention. We assess variability across elementary schools (N = 36) in rates of early adolescent alcohol, cigarette, and marijua na use. Characteristics of neighborhoods and schools potentially relat ed to school prevalence rates are examined, as well as whether these c haracteristics have independent effects or whether neighborhood charac teristics are mediated by school characteristics. Neighborhood and sch ool characteristics were measured using student, parent, and archival data. The findings show substantial variation across schools in substa nce use. Attributes of neighborhoods and schools are statistically sig nificantly related to school rates of lifetime alcohol use, lifetime c igarette use, and current cigarette use. Contrary to expectations, lif etime alcohol and cigarette use rates are higher in schools located in neighborhoods having greater social advantages as indicated by the pe rceptions of residents and archival data. Neighborhood effects are exp ressed both directly and indirectly through school characteristics. Th e findings are discussed in light of contagion and social disorganizat ion theories.