Traditionally, it has been believed that adolescent boys use drugs and alcohol more than girls do. Disturbingly, recent studies have disproved this view.
Few children drink or use drugs while in elementary school.
As they go through middle school, however, an increased number take part in drugs and alcohol. This is due, in part, to their increased exposure to more kids from diverse backgrounds in middle school, but, as evidenced by the increase in drug use as students near high school age, is also a result of their attempt to adopt what they believe to be adult behaviors. According to the National Household Drug Survey, the rate of illicit drug use rises dramatically for girls over the period of middle school to high school. They see the adults in their lives, as well as role models on television, in movies, magazines, on billboards, etc., drinking and using drugs for a variety of purposes, both medicinal and recreational. As they attempt to assume their position as adults, many youth adopt the most visible and least mature behaviors displayed by adults.