The 2005 Monitoring the Future survey revealed an almost 19 percent decline in past month use of any illicit drug by 8th, 10th, and 12th graders between 2001 and 2005. Since 2001, past month use of marijuana has fallen by 28 percent among 8th graders and by 23 percent among 10th graders.
The Monitoring the Future survey has measured drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes among adolescent students nationwide since 1975. Students report their drug use behaviors across three time periods: lifetime, past year, and past month. In 2005, 49,347 students in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades from 402 public and private schools participated in the survey, which is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and conducted by the University of Michigan.
The 2005 survey revealed continued high rates of non-medical use of prescription medications, especially opioid painkillers. In 2005, 9.5 percent of 12th graders reported using Vicodin in the past year, and 5.5 percent of these students reported using OxyContin in the past year.
A significant increase in the abuse of OxyContin has been seen in survey results from 2002 to 2005 among 12th graders. Also a significant increase in the use of sedatives and/or barbiturates among 12th graders has been shown since 2001.
"I'm pleased to see the decreased drug use noted in this survey; however, the upward trend in prescription drug abuse is disturbing," says NIH Director Dr. Elias Zerhouni. "We need to ensure that young people understand the very real risks of abusing any drug."
"While cigarette smoking is at lowest levels in the history of the survey and overall drug use among teens and adolescents is continuing to decline, there remain areas of concern with specific drugs of abuse such as prescription painkillers," says Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director NIDA. "Prescription drugs are very powerful medicines that are effective when used properly and with a doctor's supervision. Using these drugs without a prescription is dangerous. It’s imperative that teens get this message."
Drug Use Declines
The survey revealed the following changes from 2004 to 2005:- Lifetime use of cigarettes declined 2 percent among 8th graders; declined 1.7 percent among 10th graders; and declined 2.8 percent among 12th-graders.
- Past year use of alcohol was down 2.7 percent among 8th graders; down 1.5 percent among 10th graders; and down 2.1 percent among 12th graders.
- Lifetime use of methamphetamine fell 1.2 percent among 10th graders and fell 1.7 percent among 12th-graders.
- And past year use of steroids declined 1.1 percent among 12th-graders.
Source:
NIDA News Release.
