NCJ Number
224792
Date Published
April 2008
Length
76 pages
Annotation
This report presents an overview of key findings on adolescent drug use from “Monitoring the Future” for 2007, a voluntary, anonymous long-term study of drug use by American adolescents, college students, and adults through age 45.
Abstract
A number of drugs showed modest continuing declines in use in 2007, although few of the 1-year changes reached statistical significance. These included marijuana and all of the stimulant drugs other than cocaine (amphetamine, Ritalin, methamphetamine, and crystal methamphetamine). Most of the other drugs held steady in their use in 2007, generally following decreases in their use in previous years (LSD, hallucinogens other than LSD, cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, narcotics other than heroin, OxyContin, Vicodin, barbiturates, tranquilizers, Ketamine, Rohypnol, and GNB). Only one of the many classes of drugs under study showed any sign of increase in use in 2007, i.e., ecstasy (MDMA). Determinants of use are often specific to the drug. These determinants include the perceived benefits and risks of the drug. Trends in cigarette and alcohol use are of significant concern. Nearly half (46 percent) of youth have tried cigarettes by the 12th grade, and 22 percent of 12th graders are current smokers. Alcohol use remains widespread among teens, with 72 percent of students having consumed alcohol by the end of high school and 39 percent having done so by the eighth grade. The 2007 sample sizes for Monitoring the Future were approximately 16,500, 16,400, and 15,100 respectively for the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades, respectively. Approximately 48,000 students in 403 secondary schools participated. 13 tables