The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration last week announced that recent illegal drug use among teens continued to decline through 2005.
The findings are the continuation of a long fall ? from 11.6 percent using drugs in the month preceding the survey in 2002 to 11.2 percent in 2003, 10.6 percent in 2004 and 9.9 percent in 2005. One in 10 high school seniors admitted to abusing prescription painkillers.
“The trends among young people are encouraging,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. “We know prevention activities must start with our children. There is more to be done and we must build on our work to ensure that children and their parents understand that they must live free of drugs and alcohol to be healthy.”
Agency officials said results were more promising among teens who perceived a strong negative message about drug use from their parents.
The initial report from the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health ? released at the annual observance of National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month Observance ? focused on trends in substance abuse and mental health problems since 2002.
Similarly, marijuana use among teens dropped significantly from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.8 percent in 2005, while the average age of first use climbed from under age 17 in 2003 to 17.4 years in 2005.
Drinking among teens declined with 16.5 percent of youth ages 12 to 17 reporting current alcohol use and 9.9 percent reporting binge drinking. This compares with 17.6 percent of this age group reporting drinking in 2004 and 11.1 percent reporting binge drinking in the past month in 2004. The decline follows years of relatively unchanged rates.
