School Disrepair and Substance Use Among Regular and Alternative High School Students

Students attending alternative high school (AHS) with greater school disrepair are more likely to report using marijuana and other illicit drugs.

• AHS students in schools with higher levels of disrepair reported increased use of marijuana and other illicit drugs, such as cocaine and heroin.
• In contrast, students attending regular high school (RHS) with greater school disrepair were less likely to report smoking cigarettes.
• The findings suggest a potential link between the condition of the school environment and substance use behaviors among students.
• The differences in substance use patterns between AHS and RHS students highlight the need for tailored substance abuse prevention programs.

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