This study had a number of interesting findings that can be elaborated on, some that may show injustices, some that may bust stereotypes, some that may counter arguments, and more.
First, the highest usage of any substance is seen in males with rates of marijuana usage, at 64.57%, versus the female marijuana usage of 37.77% (Table 2). This pattern of males having higher rates of substance abuse can be seen in all categories. Other studies (National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2020), seem to imply that this is due to different use habits between men and women. Different use habits may affect it, but other factors may include access to treatment, education, arrest rates, and different cultures in their respective social circles. On the contrary, some of these differences are very small, like the overall drug abuse rate (36.94% to 36.14%, respectively) (Table 3).
Second, despite having a lower rate of marijuana usage than white people, African Americans have higher arrest rates due to possession of marijuana, 17.73% to 59% (Table 2). For every white person that is arrested for marijuana possession or use, 3.64 black people are arrested (American Civil Liberties Union, 2020). This shines a light on the glaring discrepancies in the American legal system that still exist to this day.
Third, Among the three religions that data could be found for, the obesity rates were very similar. Christians had an obesity rate of 26.70%, while Jews had a slightly higher rate of 28.70%, and Muslims had a rate of 32.70% (Table 4). This may be a simple random fluctuation, but it could be something more that requires further investigation.
Fourthly, the numbers that were shown in the previous analyses didn’t follow a consistent pattern within a demographic group across different substances. For example, the male alcoholism rate is only 7%, while the male marijuana usage rate is much higher than any other male substance rate, at 64.57%. This could be due to a number of different issues, like men having a higher tendency to attempt to solve their own problems and a social reliance (Gateway Foundation, 2022)
Finally, the smoking rate for all groups seems to be relatively similar. For Asian people, it’s 8%, for Atheist/agnostics, 25.10%, an outlier. The black smoking rate is 14.40%. Christians smoke at a rate of 16.70%. Disabled people have the second highest smoking rate, at 19.80%. Jewish people smoke the most out of the religions polled, at 18.45%. Males smoke more than females, with a rate of 14.10% to 13.30%. Muslims have the middle smoking rate among the religions, at 16.90%. Finally, white people smoke the exact same rate as all females 13.30% (Table 1). Of the substances and lifestyles looked at, these results were the most similar.
This study had a number of limitations holding it back. Originally, the study was to look at the differences in drug abuse rates by demographic between independent and private schools.
The first fatal error came when a study was created to gather data from a private school on the East Coast, that would provide data to add to the survey, eliminating the need for as much research. The study, however, could not be sent to students due to privacy laws surrounding minors. It could not be given to parents due to the school’s internal policies. The only group that didn’t have a barrier to surveying was the teachers, but that was not useful to the study.
The second fatal error came due to a lack of data on independent schools. Very little data could be found anywhere on the internet, and the data that was found had a variety of errors, ranging from a lack of numbers, to clearly anecdotal evidence, to data from other countries entirely. The researcher was forced to remove the private school portion of the study, leaving what is here today.
A third, but nonfatal error was a lack of LGBTQIAOP+ data, especially on non-binary or transgender people. Out of over thirty studies that were looked at, none of them made any sort of reference to these groups. Some of these studies were from more than ten years ago, but more than half were from the last 5 years, and roughly half were from this decade.
Finally, the last limitation was accessibility to available data. Some groups, like the male and female smoking rates, had large amounts of easily available data, from reliable sources, and explanations and insights to back it up. Others had low amounts of data, that were from somewhat dubious sources. Some, like most data points in the atheist/agnostic demographic, had no data at all available, leading to some areas having little insight.
There are many future studies that could be done. One example of these is a study into LGBTQIAOP+ groups, where there is little data. Another could be investigating why males have higher rates of substance abuse and self-harming habits, such as obesity. A study could be undertaken to see the differences in public and private school substance abuse rates, and why. Finally, a study could shine a light on the reasons behind unequal law enforcement in the United States.
