More Teens Just Say No, Study Says: Biggest Declines Seen For Pot, Stimulant Use

A new study has found that illicit drug use by teens continued to gradually decline overall this year, but teen use of prescription painkillers remains popular.

According to a University of Michigan study released Tuesday, overall decreases were seen among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders nationwide.

The drugs most responsible for this year's decline in illicit drug use are marijuana and various stimulants, including amphetamines, methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine.

About one-quarter of 10th graders have smoked pot in the last year. The rate was nearly 35 percent in 1997. For 12-graders, the rate is about 32 percent, down from 38.5 percent.

The proportion of eighth-graders reporting use of an illicit drug at least once in the 12 months prior to the survey was 24 percent in 1996. It now has fallen to 13 percent.

Alcohol use was also down for eighth-graders, from 47 percent in 1994 to 32 percent now. Daily cigarette smoking was down to 3 percent from a high of 11.7 percent.

However, improper use of prescription drugs was steady, the report found. One in 10 teens said they had used Vicodin without permission in the last year.
The full Monitoring the Future study is available online.

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Why do you think that teen drug use is down?

What would you have guessed was the percentage of teens that used drugs in your school?

Why do you think that teenagers are continuing to use painkillers as opposed to other drugs?

If you think it has to do with legal drugs vs illegal drugs, what is your opinion on drug legalization?

REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL OF YOUR FELLOW STUDENTS AND TEACHERS!
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