The NIDA has recently provided a chart displaying past illicit drug use reports. In general, the numbers are rather good, from 2006 to 2007, the number of 8th graders confirming lifetime use of any illicit drug decreased from 20.9% to 19.0%. The noted past year use amongst 8th graders declined from 14.8% to 13.2%. Furthermore, past year prevalence has dropped by 44% amongst 8th graders since the peak year of 1996, past year prevalence has fallen 27% amongst 10th graders and 15% among 12th graders since the peak year of 1997.
Cigarette smoking continues to slide to the lowest rate in the review’s history. Between 2006 and 2007, declines were discovered in lifetime, past month, and daily cigarette use amongst 8th graders. While there were no 1-year reductions for 10th and 12th graders, all grades have continued a lengthier term trend of decreasing cigarette use.These findings are particularly noteworthy since tobacco addiction is one of the leading preventable contributors to many of our Nation’s health problems.
Past year use of marijuana by 8th graders declined from 11.7% in 2006 to 10.3% in 2007. Between 2001 and 2007, past month cannabis use dropped by nearly 25% for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined.
Since 2006, past year steroid use decreased in 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined from 1.3% to 1.1%.
Crystal Meth misuse continues to drop – between 2006 and 2007, lifetime and past year use amongst 8th and 12th graders lessened.
A substantial long-term drop was witnessed in past year alcohol use with 8th graders, down to 31.8% from its peak of 46.8% in 1994. Furthermore, past year use of flavored alcoholic beverages among 10th graders dropped from 48.8% in 2006 to 45.9% in 2007.
Despite these positive trends, there are numerous remaining areas of concern. The NIDA graph documented alarming nonmedical use of Oxycontin and Vicodin by 12th graders.
In 2007, 15.4% of 12th graders noted using a prescription drug nonmedically within the past year. Vicodin continues to be abused at unacceptably high degrees. Thinking toward substance misuse, often seen as harbingers of alterations in misuse rates, were mostly steady. Even so, with 8th graders, perceived risk of harm associated with Ecstasy lessened for the third year in a row. Perceptions towards using Acid also softened with 10th graders this year.
Between 2005 and 2007, past year abuse of Mdma increased among 12th graders from 3.0% to 4.5%; and between 2004 and 2007, past year misuse of Ecstasy increased among 10th graders from 2.4% to 3.5%. The report included several categories including amphetamines, sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers, and opiates other than heroin.