Teen Illicit Drug Use Dropped in 2004
Underage Drinking Remained Unchanged, Government Survey Shows
Sept. 8, 2005 -- Teen use of marijuana, cocaine, and other illicit drugs was down 9% in 2004, according to the U.S. government.
Teen cigarette smoking also fell. But underage drinking didn't improve, according to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Trends for young adults (aged 18-25) included a continued drop in tobacco use and a rise in nonmedical use of some pain relievers for young adults.
The report comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Numbers are based on a survey of about 70,000 people.
Nearly 8% of the U.S. population aged 12 and older had used illicit drugs in the past month. That's about 19 million people.
The numbers were similar in 2002 and 2003, except among teens.
Teen illicit drug use dropped about 9% from 2003. About one in 10 youths aged 12-17 used illicit drugs in 2004. That's down from 11.2% in 2003 and 11.6% in 2002. In that age group, marijuana use fell among boys to about 8% but stayed steady for girls (about 7%).
Marijuana was America's most commonly used illicit drug. More than 14 million people had used marijuana in the month before the survey (current users).
Other drugs included:
Ecstasy had about 450,000 current users. That's similar to the number for 2003 but down from 2002, the survey shows.
Six million people (2.5%) currently used psychotherapeutic drugs (painkillers, tranquilizers, sedatives, and stimulants) for nonmedical reasons in 2004.
Most (nearly 4.5 million people) used pain relievers.
Nonmedical use of some pain relievers rose notably among adults aged 18 to 25.
For instance, Vicodin use was up from 15% to 16.5% and OxyContin use increased from 3.6 to 4.3% in that age group.
Tobacco use dropped in 2004, primarily from a drop in cigarette use from 26% to 25%. Still, nearly 70 million people currently used tobacco products (about a third of the population older than 12 years old), the study shows.
About a quarter of people aged 12 and older smoked cigarettes. Cigar use held steady. Smokeless tobacco use dropped from 3.3% to 3%.
Teen Illicit Drug Use Dropped in 2004
Underage Drinking Remained Unchanged, Government Survey Shows
Sept. 8, 2005 -- Teen use of marijuana, cocaine, and other illicit drugs was down 9% in 2004, according to the U.S. government.
Teen cigarette smoking also fell. But underage drinking didn't improve, according to the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Trends for young adults (aged 18-25) included a continued drop in tobacco use and a rise in nonmedical use of some pain relievers for young adults.
The report comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Numbers are based on a survey of about 70,000 people.
Illicit Drugs
Nearly 8% of the U.S. population aged 12 and older had used illicit drugs in the past month. That's about 19 million people.
The numbers were similar in 2002 and 2003, except among teens.
Teen illicit drug use dropped about 9% from 2003. About one in 10 youths aged 12-17 used illicit drugs in 2004. That's down from 11.2% in 2003 and 11.6% in 2002. In that age group, marijuana use fell among boys to about 8% but stayed steady for girls (about 7%).
Marijuana was America's most commonly used illicit drug. More than 14 million people had used marijuana in the month before the survey (current users).
Other drugs included:
- Cocaine: 2 million current users (467,000 used crack cocaine)
- Hallucinogens: 929,000 current users
- Heroin: about 166,000 current users
Ecstasy had about 450,000 current users. That's similar to the number for 2003 but down from 2002, the survey shows.
Psychotherapeutic Drugs
Six million people (2.5%) currently used psychotherapeutic drugs (painkillers, tranquilizers, sedatives, and stimulants) for nonmedical reasons in 2004.
Most (nearly 4.5 million people) used pain relievers.
Nonmedical use of some pain relievers rose notably among adults aged 18 to 25.
For instance, Vicodin use was up from 15% to 16.5% and OxyContin use increased from 3.6 to 4.3% in that age group.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use dropped in 2004, primarily from a drop in cigarette use from 26% to 25%. Still, nearly 70 million people currently used tobacco products (about a third of the population older than 12 years old), the study shows.
About a quarter of people aged 12 and older smoked cigarettes. Cigar use held steady. Smokeless tobacco use dropped from 3.3% to 3%.
- Highest rate of cigarette use: Adults aged 18-25 (39.5%)
- Cigarette use among teens dropped from 13% to 12% between 2002 and 2004.
- Cigarette smoking was more common among men 12 and older (28%) than women (22%).
- Among teens, cigarette smoking was more common among girls (12%) than boys (11%) aged 12-17.