Underestimates of student substance use by school personnel: a cause for concern?

The present study was designed to compare school personnel's (i.e., principals, counselors, teachers) estimates of student substance use with student self-reported data. Comparisons were made in 78 schools between 5431 student self-reports of tobacco, alcohol, and drug use and 170 school personnel's estimates of student substance use. The results indicated that a significant number of school personnel were unable to estimate student substance use. Personnel who did provide estimates typically underestimated the degree of substance use, in comparison to student self-reported substance use. School personnel did not significantly overestimate use in comparison to student self-reported substance use for any substance in any grade or geographic area. It is suggested that school personnel may resist the adoption of prevention programs because of a perceived lack of need due to underestimation of the substance use problem.