Study: Students who perform better in school less likely to use drugs than those who do not do well

By Staff Writer

A recent study published in the journal Prevention Science shows that students in high-performing schools were less likely to use drugs and alcohol.

Researchers said that they were also less likely to steal or participate in fights than children in schools that did not perform as well. Furthermore, higher performing schools had lower rates of drug and alcohol use by nearly 25 percent.

Academic achievement scores were based on standardized tests on reading and math, which public schools are required to administer. Then researchers determined how well schools should perform based on each school's own sociodemographic factors and compared how they fared.

Therapeutic boarding schools are learning institutions that strive for academic achievement in an effort to treat drug abuse. These campuses also provide individual therapy and recreational activities.

The 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey shows that 72 percent of high school seniors used alcohol at least once during their lifetime. Meanwhile, 44 percent of eighth graders consumed the substance at least once in the lives.