This Is Your Teen On Drugs

THIS IS YOUR TEEN ON DRUGS For nearly four decades, the Unveristy of Michigan has monitored the prevalence of smoking, drinking, and illicit drug use among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders in the United States in its report "Monitoring the Future.' The most recent findings suggest that drug use among teens-particularly the consumption of tobacco and alcohol-is not nearly as prevalent as THE STATE OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, AND ILLICIT DRUG USE AMONG YOUNG AMERICANS during the hard-partying (and DARE-saturated) 1990s. Percentage who reported taking any illict drug within the 30 days before the survey. THE LAST TWO DECADES 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 20.6 % 20.5% ANY ILLICIT DRUG 19.5% 19.5% 19.2% 19.4% 18.6% 18.2% Drug use among teens within the last 20 years rose throughout the 1990s, peaked in 1996 and began to decline for more than a decade. The latest figures-17 percent of 17.3% 16.8% 16.7% 17% 16.2% 15.8% 15.8% 14.9% 14.8% 14.6% 13.3% teens had used within 30 days of the study and 50 percent had used by the time they graduated high school-continue the trend of a slight uptick in drug use since 2008. 10.9% 10.5% 50% THE BREAKDOWN: FROM MARIJUANA TO HEROIN (1991-2011) Percentage who reported taking the following drugs within the 30 days prior to being surveyed. 1991 39.8% 45% 2011 While use of marijuana and heroin has roughly doubled among teens, most other substances-including licit favorites alcohol and tobacco-have seen a drop. 25.5% 40% 35% 1991 20.7% 30% 2011 11.7% 25% 1991 2011 8.3% 15.2% 20% 1992 15% 9.2% 2011 2011 2.8% 1991 -2011 1991 5.9% 10% 1991 2011 1996 3% 1991 2011 3.2% 2.1% 2011 1991 2011 1991 2011 1.5% 1.3% 1.5% 1991 2011 1.7% 1.4% 1.1% 5% 0.8% 0.8% 0.6% 0.5% 0.2% 0.4% mlillulu 0% MARIJUANA INHALANTS HALLUCINOGENS ECSTASY (MDMA) COCAINE HEROIN AMPHETAMINES* TRANQUILIZERS ALCOHOL CIGARETTES SMOKELESS TOBACCO STEROIDS COMPARED TO EUROPE ALCOHOL CIGARETTE SMOKING ILLICIT DRUGS / = Data not available. O Average percentage who reported using any illicit drugs during their lifetime. * Includes methamphetamine, Average percentage who drank alcohol within one month before the survey. Average percentage who smoked cigarettes When compared to European countries, American teenagers drink less alcohol and smoke fewer cigarettes. However, on within one month before the survey. Ritalin, and Adderall. average, they report much higher rates of illicit drug use. 26% 12% 34.7% U.S. U.S. U.S. 57% 28% 18% EUROPE EUROPE EUROPE SOURCES: THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN. "MONITORING THE FUTURE: NATIONAL RESULTS ON ADOLESCENT DRUG USE." 2011. THE EUROPEAN SCHOOL SURVEY PROJECT ON ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUGS. "The 2011 ESPAD REPORT. 2011. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE A COLLABORATION BETWEEN GOOD AND COLUMN FIVE