Teen Illicit Drug Use Down, Survey Shows

The most recent National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicates that a decline in illicit drug use among adolescents, indicating that teens are getting the message that drug abuse can be harmful, but officials are concerned that prescription medication abuse has increased and underage drinking remains at the same level over the past four years.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration survey, the rate of illicit drug use within the past month dropped from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.8 percent in 2006 among 12 to 17-year-olds. The same group also reported a decrease in smoking cigarettes.

More significantly, marijuana use among the 12-17 age group dropped from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.7 percent in 2006. The decline of smoking marijuana was even more significant in teen males.

"The trends in general are very encouraging. Parents and communities are doing a great job helping more and more children make the right choice when it comes to illicit drug use," said Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. SAMHSA is an agency of HHS. "We also need to do more to help people who are already addicted by providing access to a wide array of effective treatment and recovery support programs."

A Terrible Drag on Society

"Drug use is a terrible drag on our society and our economy," said the White House’s National Drug Control Policy Director John P. Walters. "Outdated notions casting drug use as a 'recreational' or 'lifestyle' choice have resulted in generations of persistent and ruinous drug use. But we know that this is a problem that can be made smaller. Fewer teens using drugs today means fewer Americans suffering destructive consequences tomorrow." However, a major concern indicated by the new survey was the increase in nonmedical use of prescription drugs which increased from 5.4 percent in 2002 to 6.4 percent in 2006. Most of the increase was due to use of painkillers.

"The abuse of prescription drugs for nonmedical reasons is of increasing concern," said SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline, Ph.D. "These are potent drugs that can have serious and life-threatening consequences if misused. Parents in particular need to be aware of this problem and take steps to prevent these medications from falling into the wrong hands."

^{Sources: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "Results from the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: National Findings" Sept. 6, 2007.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "New National Survey Reveals Drug Use Down Among Adolescents in U.S." Sept. 6, 2007.}

^{Photo: Clipart.com}