Early school success protects against teen and young adult drug use

It is not surprising that a study from the University of Michigan showed patterns of educational success or failure are well established for most adolescents by the time they reach the end of eighth grade, while drug use has only begun to emerge. The researchers found that the strongest and most long-lasting effects of early educational success or failure are not on drinking or illicit drug use, but on cigarette use. Unfortunately the research focuses on behavior in school and not on the chidren's families. I would be willing to bet that the children with the best outcomes have the strongest family structures. There is really nothing new or surprising about this 'research.'