Key findings of drug abuse

These are the key findings from the 2004 MTF:

• Any illicit drug - 30-day use of any illicit drug decreased significantly among 8th-graders, from 9.7 percent in 2003 to 8.4 percent in 2004.
• Inhalants - Lifetime use of inhalants increased significantly among 8th-graders, from 15.8 percent in 2003 to 17.3 percent in 2004, continuing an upward trend in use noted among 8th-graders last year, after several years of decline. Since 2001, there appears to be a gradual decline among 8th-graders in the perceived risk of using inhalants.
• Prescription Drugs - Annual use of Ritalin and Rohypnol remained statistically unchanged for all grades from 2003 to 2004. Annual use of Vicodin and OxyContin remained stable among all grades, but at somewhat high levels. Annual use of Vicodin was at 2.5 percent for 8th-graders, 6.2 percent for 10-graders, and 9.3 percent for 12th-graders. Annual use of OxyContin was at 1.7 percent for 8th-graders, 3.5 percent for 10th-graders, and 5.0 percent for 12th-graders. (2)
• Marijuana - 30-day use of marijuana was down significantly among 8th-graders, from 7.5 percent in 2003 to 6.4 percent in 2004. Some strengthening of attitudes against marijuana use also occurred among 8th- and 10th-graders.
• MDMA (Ecstasy) - Lifetime use of MDMA decreased significantly for 10th-graders, from 5.4 percent in 2003 to 4.3 percent in 2004. Some strengthening of attitudes against use was seen among 10th- and 12th-graders. All grades had decreases in the perception of the availability of MDMA.
• Methamphetamine - Use decreased significantly among 8th-graders, from 3.9 percent in 2003 to 2.5 percent in 2004 for lifetime use; from 2.5 percent in 2003 to 1.5 percent in 2004 for annual use; and from 1.2 percent in 2003 to 0.6 percent in 2004 for 30-day use.
• GHB and Ketamine - Significant decreases in annual use were seen among 10th-graders for GHB, from 1.4 percent in 2003 to 0.8 percent in 2004, and Ketamine, from 1.9 percent in 2003 to 1.3 percent in 2004.
• LSD - Lifetime use of LSD decreased significantly among 12th-graders, from 5.9 percent in 2003 to 4.6 percent in 2004, continuing the pattern of decreases in LSD use noted in 2002 and 2003.
• Anabolic Steroids - Use of steroids decreased significantly among 8th-graders, from 2.5 percent in 2003 to 1.9 percent in 2004 for lifetime use and from 1.4 percent in 2003 to 1.1 percent in 2004 for annual use. Among 10th-graders, lifetime use decreased significantly, from 3.0 percent in 2003 to 2.4 percent in 2004, continuing the decrease in use among 10th-graders seen in 2003. Steroid use among 12th-graders, however, remained stable at peak levels.
• Cocaine, other than Crack - A significant increase in use of cocaine other than crack was seen among 10th-graders, from 1.1 percent in 2003 to 1.5 percent in 2004, for 30-day use. An increase in the perception of availability of all forms of cocaine was seen among 12th-graders.
• Cigarettes/Nicotine - Cigarette smoking decreased significantly among 10th-graders, from 43.0 percent in 2003 to 40.7 percent in 2004 for lifetime use and from 4.1 percent in 2003 to 3.3 percent in 2004 for those smoking one-half pack or more per day. The perception of harm from smoking one or more packs per day increased significantly among 8th- and 10th-graders from 2003 to 2004.
• Alcohol, heroin, crack cocaine, hallucinogens other than LSD, PCP, amphetamines, tranquilizers, sedatives, and methaqualone remained stable among all grades from 2003 to 2004.

Perceived Risk of Harm, Disapproval, & Perceived Availability

In addition to studying drug use among 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders, MTF collects information on three attitudinal indicators related to drug use. These are perceived risk of harm in taking a drug, disapproval of others who take drugs, and perceived availability of drugs.

The following POSITIVE attitudinal changes are from 2003 to 2004:

• Marijuana - Significant increases occurred among 8th-graders in perceived risk for regular marijuana use and for trying it once or twice. Additionally, disapproval of trying marijuana once or twice or smoking it occasionally increased significantly among 8th-graders. Among 10th-graders, disapproval of smoking marijuana occasionally or regularly increased significantly. Perceived availability of marijuana decreased significantly among 8th-graders.
• Cigarettes/Nicotine - The perceived risk associated with smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day increased significantly among 8th- and 10th-graders. Perceived availability of cigarettes decreased significantly among 8th-graders.
• MDMA (Ecstasy) - Among 10th-graders, the perceived risk of taking MDMA occasionally increased significantly, as did their disapproval of trying MDMA once or twice. Among 12th-graders, disapproval of taking MDMA once or twice increased significantly. Perceived availability of MDMA significantly decreased for all three grades.
• Heroin - A significant increase was noted in the percentage of 12th-graders who perceive risk in using heroin occasionally without a needle. Among 8th-graders, the perceived availability of heroin decreased significantly.
• Alcohol - Among 12th-graders, a significant increase was seen in the percentage perceiving risk in taking one or two drinks nearly every day.
• Inhalants - Among 10th-graders, a significant increase was seen in the percentage disapproving of using inhalants regularly.
• LSD - The perceived availability of LSD decreased significantly among 8th-graders. A significant increase was noted in the percentage of 12th-graders who disapprove of using LSD once or twice.
• PCP - The perceived availability of PCP decreased significantly among 8th-graders.
• Cocaine and Crack - The perceived availability of cocaine and crack decreased significantly among 8th-graders.

The perceived availability of narcotics other than heroin, amphetamines, crystal methamphetamine (ice), tranquilizers, alcohol, and steroids decreased significantly among 8th-graders. The following NEGATIVE attitudinal changes are from 2003 to 2004:

• Heroin - A significant decrease was noted in the percentage of 12th-graders who perceive risk in using heroin regularly.

• LSD - A significant decrease occurred in the percentage of 8th-graders who disapprove of taking LSD regularly.
• Inhalants - The gradual decline among 8th-graders since 2001 in the perceived risk of using inhalants continued from 2003 to 2004.
• Cocaine - An increase in the perception of availability of all forms of cocaine was seen among 12th-graders.

Information provided by National Institute on Drug Abuse

Source: RefillPill.com Editors' Choice