Drugs and alcohol in U.S. high schools

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - According to a new study, drug and alcohol use in U.S. high schools is more common than you may think.

"I haven't seen anybody smoke or drink, but I've heard stories of people bringing alcohol into school--like in little nips and everything", said recent high school graduate Vera Kalatina of Agawam.

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University is reporting that 9 out of 10 high school students say they have classmates who smoke, drink, or use drugs during school hours.

This issue is not just limited to public schools either. Teens at private schools also reported that drugs are in their hallways too--that's a 50%increase from last year.

Many teens agree it's problem that will, most likely, not solve itself.

"I feel it's hard, but it's something that's probably just going to keep happening and keep happening more", said Jared Grabowski of Westfield.

However in some parts of Western Massachusetts, statistics show that drug use in the schools is not an issue.

For example, in Hampshire County, 88% of students surveyed in 2011 said that they have not used drugs or alcohol while at school. That's based on data from the Strategic Planning Initiative for Families and Youth (SPIFFY) .

So while numbers may vary nationwide, it's just another reminder for parents, how important it is to talk to your kids about drugs and peer pressure.

Here are a few effective strategies parents can use in this discussion:

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Drugs and alcohol in U.S. high schools