Teens Are Still Abusing Prescription Drugs and Marijuana in High Numbers
Teens continue to abuse dangerous prescription drugs in high numbers, and a multi-year downward trend in teen marijuana use has flat-lined. Teen alcohol use, however, continues to decline and fewer teens than ever are smoking cigarettes.
These illuminating facts come from the Monitoring the Future Survey, a research survey of teen substance use habits and attitudes administered by researchers at the University of Michigan with financial support from the National Institute of Health (NIS).
The Numbers:
- 32.4% of 12th graders, 23.9% of 10th graders and 10.9% of 8th graders reported using marijuana at least once in the past year
- Fewer 8th graders perceived marijuana to be very harmful in 2008 than in 2007
- Almost 10% of 12th graders used Vicodin to get high in the past year and 4.7% abused OxyContin during the same period
- More
than 10% of 12th graders are daily smokers
- Almost 25% of 12th graders admitted to binge drinking within 2 weeks of being surveyed
- The number of 12th graders who consider LSD a harmful drug continues to decline, as do the number of 8th graders who consider inhalants harmful
The 2008 survey was the 33rd consecutive annual Monitoring the Future report on teen drug use and attitudes.
