The Future of Drug Abuse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) continues to monitor to the future, looking at drug use, smoking and more among youth in an attempt to see where trends are headed and what substance abuse problems may grow in the future.

Drug Use on the Decline

Overall, the results of their latest study were positive, with the percentage of eighth graders reporting lifetime use of any illicit drug declined from 20.9 percent to 19.0 percent between 2006 and 2007. At the same time, past year use among that same group declined from 14.8 percent to 13.2 percent. Even more positive is the finding that cigarette smoking has fallen to the lowest rate in the survey’s history. Marijuana use is also down, with eighth graders reporting a past year decline from 11.7 percent in 2006 to 10.3 percent in 2007. Between 2001 and 2007, past month marijuana use declined by nearly 25 percent for eighth through twelfth graders.

Other findings in the study include methamphetamine use continuing to decline, with lifetime and past year use among eighth and twelfth graders decreased. A substantial long-term decline was observed in past year alcohol use among eighth graders, too, dropping to 31.8 percent from its peak of 46.8 percent in 1994.

Prescription Drug Use Rising

Not all the news was good, though. Areas of concern do still exist. In 2007, 15.4 percent of twelfth graders reported using a prescription drug nonmedically within the past year, with Vicodin continuing to be abused at unacceptably high levels. Attitudes toward substance abuse were mostly stable, but among eighth graders, perceived risk of harm associated with MDMA (aka Ecstasy) decreased for the third year in a row. Attitudes towards using LSD also softened among tenth graders this year. As a result, it’s not surprising to find that MDMA use increased among by 1.5 percent.

Knowledge is power, though, and for parents, teachers and counselors, this information allows them to be aware of risk factors for kids so they can be on the lookout for problems before they become out of control.

Drug Treatment

If you or someone you love is in need of drug treatment, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.