Substance Use Behaviors of Young People with a Moderate Learning Disability: A Longitudinal Analysis

Abstract

Substance use behaviors of young people attending a special school are reported over a 4-year period from the age of 12–16 years. The article investigated these behaviors by surveying a cohort of young people with a statement for moderate learning disabilities annually during the last 4 years of compulsory schooling. The findings show that these young people consistently reported lower levels of tobacco, alcohol, and cannabis use compared with those attending mainstream school. No other illicit drug use was reported. The potential implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the context and timing of targeted substance education and prevention initiatives for young people with moderate learning disability attending a special school.

Keywords:

• Moderate learning disability