Use of Licit and Illicit Drugs by America's High School Students 1975 - 1984

• NCJ Number: 102918
• Author(s): L D Johnston; P M O'Malley; J G Bachman
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 162 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Corporate Author: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 85-1394. Document is no longer available through GPO (out of print).

Annotation

Surveys of samples of about 16,000 seniors in public and private high schools in the United States each year between 1975 and 1984 form the basis of estimates of the current prevalence of drug use among American high school seniors and trends in use since 1975.

Abstract

The data also show the grade level at first drug use, trends in use at earlier grade levels, the intensity of drug use, attitudes and beliefs among seniors concerning various types of drug use, and their perceptions of certain aspects of the social environment. The 11 classes of drugs discussed are marijuana, inhalants, hallucinogens, cocaine, heroin, other natural and synthetic opiates, stimulants, sedatives, tranquilizers, alcohol, and cigarettes. The overall use of illicit drugs continued the decline of recent years in 1984, especially in the use of marijuana. Alcohol use has remained at relatively stable and high levels, with 93 percent of the high school seniors having used alcohol at some time and 39 percent having engaged in heavy drinking at least once during the previous 2 weeks. The rate of cigarette smoking also declined. However, 62 percent of all young people try an illicit drug before they finish high school and 1 in 20 seniors smokes marijuana daily. This Nation's youth have the highest levels of illicit drug involvement of any developed nation. Figures, tables, and footnotes.