Demographics: Substance Use

Overall, adolescent use of illegal drugs has declined since the mid- to late-1990s. Increasing numbers of high school seniors report abstaining from cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. However, drug use remains quite common. Through the high school years, the prevalence of substance use increases, doubling between 8th and 12th grade [1].

Substance-Free

In 2008, 50% of high school seniors and 80% of eighth graders reported being substance-free (did not use cigarettes, alcohol, or illicit drugs in the 30 days prior to the survey) [2].In 2011, among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined, 72% reported that they had not used illicit drugs within the past year (excluding cigarettes and alcohol) [3].

Cigarettes

In 2009, close to half of high school students (46%) reported having tried cigarettes, while 11% reported having smoked cigarettes daily at some point in their lives. One in five students smokes at least occasionally (smoked cigarettes on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey), and half of this group had tried to quit smoking at some time during the last year [1].

Alcohol

Use of alcohol is also common: In 2009, 42% of students reported having had at least one drink during the 30 days before the survey [4]. Nearly one in four students (24%) had engaged in binge drinking (5 or more drinks in a row in previous 30 days [4]. Driving while drunk has declined among youth; however, in 2009, 10% of high school students reported having driven while drinking at least once in the last 30 days, and 28% of students rode in a car driven by someone who had been drinking [5] (In New York State, 8% drove while drinking [6]). Asian (4%) teens are the least likely to drive while drinking, followed by black (6%) teens; white (11%) and American Indian/Alaskan Native (11%) teens are the most likely [7].

Marijuana

For many years, marijuana has been the most widely-used illegal drug among adolescents [8]. One in five students (21%) reported having used marijuana during the month before completing the 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey [9].

Other Substances

Vicodin® was the prescription drug most widely used in 2009, with 8% of 10th graders and 10% of high school seniors reporting use [10]. In general, use of prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription is widespread; in 2009, 20% of students reported having used these drugs at least once in their lifetime. Additional 2009 figures for lifetime use (percentage of high school students who have used a particular substance once or more at some point in their lives) are: inhalants (12%), hallucinogenics (8%), ecstasy/MDMA (7%), cocaine (6%), methamphetamine (4%), illegal steroids (3%), heroin (3%) [11].

Endnotes

[1]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 10-11. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[2]	Child Trends. (2010). Substance-free youth. Retrieved October 5, 2010, from childtrendsdatabank.org/?q=node/287
[3]	Johnston, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2012). Monitoring the future: National results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2012, from monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/mtf-overview2011.pdf (PDF: 1.6M)
[4]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 13. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[5]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Trends in the prevalence of behaviors that contribute to unintentional injury. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/pdf/us_injury_trend_yrbs.pdf (PDF: 83K)
[6]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Youth online: High School YRBS: New York 2009 Results. Retrieved July 21, 2010, from apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?LID=NY
[7]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009). Youth online: High School YRBS: United States 2009 Results: Drove when drinking. Retrieved September 30, 2010, from apps.nccd.cdc.gov/youthonline/App/Results.aspx?TT=C&SID=HS&QID=H1 1&LID=XX&LID2=SL&YID=2009&YID2=SY&HT=QQ&LCT=LL&COL=S&ROW1=N&ROW2= N&TST=false&SC=DEFAULT&SO=ASC&VA=CI&CS=Y&DP=1&QP=G&FG=1&FR=1&FS=1 &TABLECLICKED=1
[8]	Johnston, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2010). Monitoring the future: National results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2009, 12. Retrieved September 30, 2010, from monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/overview2009.pdf (PDF: 1.3M)
[9]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 14. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)
[10]	Johnston, L. D., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2010). Monitoring the future: National results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2009, 28. Retrieved September 30, 2010, from monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/overview2009.pdf (PDF: 1.3M)
[11]	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010, June 4). Youth risk behavior surveillance - United States, 2009 [electronic version]. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 59(SS-5), 14-17. Retrieved July 26, 2010, from cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (PDF: 3.5M)