 |
 |
 |
|
Teens and Drugs:
Quick Facts
Overall teen drug use rates have dropped by 19 percent in the last four years. Despite the significant decrease, marijuana is still the most commonly used illicit drug among 12- to 17-year-olds. Research shows that an ongoing parent-teen conversation about the risks and consequences of drug use is crucial to keeping teens healthy and drug-free.
Illicit drug use among teens is on the decline.
- From 2001 to 2005, past month illicit drug use and past month marijuana use use among teens has dropped by 19 percent.1
- Annual use rates of illicit drug use among high school seniors declined from 41 percent in 1998 to 38 percent in 2005.2
Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among America's youth, and the majority of new marijuana users are youth aged 12–17.
- Each day, more than 3,000 12- to 17-year-olds try marijuana for the first time.3 That means more than one million young Americans try marijuana for the first time each year.
- Despite the significant decrease in the number of new marijuana users under 18 in recent years, teens still make up the majority (59%) of new marijuana users.4
Each year, more teens enter treatment with a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependence than for all other illicit drugs combined.
- The number of youth aged 12–17 admitted to substance abuse treatment increased 43 percent between 1994 and 2004. The increase was largely attributed to those entering treatment for marijuana dependency. Treatment for this substance alone increased 115 percent between 1994 and 2004.5
- The proportion of primary marijuana admissions for adolescents grew from 43 percent in 1994 to 64 percent in 2004.6
Recent data indicate that girls have caught up with boys in illicit drug and alcohol use.
- Girls are closing the gap with boys in terms of usage of marijuana, alcohol, and cigarettes. Each year between 2002 and 2005, more teenage girls than boys started using marijuana for the first time. And in 2003, 2004, and 2005, more girls than boys started using alcohol and cigarettes.7
References
1 Monitoring the Future, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2002–2005.
URL: http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/05data/pr05t3.pdf
2 Monitoring the Future, Trends in Annual Prevalence of Use of Various Drugs for Eighth, Tenth, and Twelfth Graders. National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2005.
URL: http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/05data/pr05t2.pdf
3 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA, 2006.
URL: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k5NSDUH/tabs/Sect4peTabs1to16.htm#Tab4.6B
4 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA, 2006.
URL: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k5NSDUH/2k5results.htm#5.2
5 Treatment Episodes DAT Set (TEDS) 1994–2004, SAMHSA, 2006.
URL: http://wwwdasis.samhsa.gov/teds04/TEDSAd2k4Hi.htm
6 Ibid.
7 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, SAMHSA, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. Tables 4.2B, 4.3 B and 4.4 B.
URL: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/NSDUH/2k5NSDUH/tabs/Sect4peTabs1to16.htm#
 | |||||||||
| |||||||||