Mixed Results in Annual Drug Survey

The annual Monitoring the Future survey brought mixed results for parents and health officials concerned about preventing youth substance abuse. Alcohol and cigarette use is at a historic low among 8th, 10th and 12th graders, but marijuana and prescription drug use has increased.

Cigarette smoking has declined, but use of alternate tobacco products remains at high levels.

The Monitoring the Future survey is conducted annually by the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, under a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). This year, 46,773 students from 400 public and private schools participated in the classroom survey.

The bottom line on this year's survey is more teens smoke marijuana than smoke cigarettes and, although rates have declined, alcohol is still the drug of choice for all three age groups surveyed.

Good News, Bad News in 2011

Here are some highlight from the 2011 Monitoring the Future survey:

• Cigarette use among 12th graders has dropped by almost half since 1997, with only 18.7% admitting to smoking.

• Among 12th graders, 63.5% drank alcohol in the past year, down from 74.8% in 1997.

• Binge drinking has declined among all three age groups.

• Marijuana use rates however are up among all age groups including 36.5% for 12th graders.

• Also, 11.4% of 12th graders reported past year use of so-called synthetic marijuana like "K2" and "Spice."

• Use of OxyContin remained steady for all three age groups.

• The non-medical use of ADHD medications Adderall and Ritalin also remained about the same.

• A significant decline was seen across all age groups in the use of over-the-counter cough medicine.

Parents Can Help With Prevention

Health officials welcomed the decline in overall cigarette smoking reveal by the study, but bemoaned the fact that the rate of decline in smoking has slowed over the past few years. The increase in the use of other tobacco products is also a big concern.

"This highlights the urgency of maintaining strong prevention efforts against teen smoking and of targeting other tobacco products," said NIDA director Dr. Nora D. Volkow in a news release.

Public health officials also encouraged parents to get involved in teaching teens about the dangers of using marijuana and synthetic marijuana products.

^{Source: National Institute on Drug Abuse. "Monitoring the Future 2011." Dec. 14, 2011.}

Related Information:

• Warnings Issued About 'Fake Cocaine' Bath Salts
  
• K2: Something Else for Parents to Worry About
  
• Effects of Synthetic Marijuana or 'Legal Bud

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