The sample included 78 students in grades 9 through 12 in a metropolitan school district who had been identified by school officials as potential dropouts because of truancy and other academic and family background variables. They were asked to complete a written questionnaire on drug use and related attitudes in 1975. Descriptive analysis showed that drug use was widespread and that marijuana was used about the same number of students as cigarettes and hard alcohol. Students did not believe that general drug use caused social problems but that heavy drug use could cause school problems. Results tentatively suggest that particular emphasis on drug education programs should be directed to including or reaching potential school dropouts who may be chronically absent or truant and that drug education programs may require different content emphases for girls and boys. 10 references, 4 tables, and 1 figure