Research has found that about 12.2 to 13.2 percent of American schoolchildren have at least one disability. Of the estimated 53.1 million American school-age children in 2000, approximately 6.2 million (11.7 percent) received special education services. Children with physical and cognitive disabilities are at greater risk for substance abuse for three main reasons:
Reason One: Children with disabilities are generally subjected to more risk factors and pressures than their non-disabled peers, such as exclusion, alienation, and health-related issues to name a few. Research has shown that an increase in risk factors also increases the risk for substance abuse in students with disabilities.
Reason Two: Most substance abuse prevention programs offer "one size fits all" curriculums aimed exclusively at non-disabled youths, or at youths from ethnic communities. These curriculums don't address or take into account the specific critical issues faced by students with disabilities that relate to additional risk factors, differing learning styles, functional limitations and disability culture.
Reason Three: Research has shown that persons with disabilities use alcohol and drugs to "level the playing field" with non-disabled peers. It is not unusual for youths with disabilities to choose illegal substances (tobacco, alcohol or drugs) and get "high" with non-disabled peers to feel more accepted. Several research studies have shown that youths and adults with disabilities use ATOD at the same or higher rates as the general population.
