NCJ Number
199680
Date Published
April 2003
Length
61 pages
Annotation
This document presents early results from the Monitoring the Future 2002 nationwide survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th students on the use of licit and illicit drugs.
Abstract
The surveys generated a more positive picture than has been seen in recent years. A number of illicit drugs showed broad declines, most notably ecstasy for the first time; cigarette smoking dropped sharply in all grades; and drinking alcohol and getting drunk were down in all grades. There were significant declines in the proportions of students in 8th and 10th grade that reported using any illicit drug other than marijuana in the prior 12 months. Hallucinogens other than LSD showed modest declines in all three grade levels in both lifetime and annual prevalence, though none of these reached statistical significance. Amphetamine use declined in both 8th and 10th grades. Methamphetamine use continued a longer-term decline among 8th graders but remained relatively stable in the upper grades following some decline in those grades in the 2 prior years. Several classes of drugs, such as heroin, narcotics other than heroin, and cocaine, held fairly steady. The use of anabolic steroids also held steady, though at historically high levels, following sharp increases in the several years prior. The only two classes of drugs showing any sign of further increase, among the 12th graders only, were tranquilizers and barbiturates. The problems of substance abuse remain widespread among American young people. Today over half have tried an illicit drug by the time they finish high school. More than half of young people have tried cigarettes by 12th grade, and more than a quarter of 12th graders are current smokers. Smokeless tobacco use has been in decline in recent years. Alcohol use remains extremely widespread among teenagers. Nearly four out of five students have consumed alcohol by the end of high school; and nearly half have done so by 8th grade. 9 tables, 8 footnotes