HEALTHTeens (but not adults) backing away from illicit drugs; underage drinking, smoking remain problematicA recent survey indicates prescription drug abuse is increasing among older teens and young adults, and the source is often the family medicine cabinet.By Susan J. Landers, amednews staff. Oct. 15, 2007. ![[download pdf]](/amednews/images/ic_pdf.gif)
Washington -- The latest national survey on drug abuse shows that illicit substance use has declined among young teens over the past four years, but alarming numbers of 18- to 25-year-olds are continuing to misuse prescription drugs. Increased use of illegal drugs is also reported among adults ages 50 to 54. Data from the "2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health" show that drug use among 12- to 17-year-olds has dropped to levels not seen since the early 1990s. Over the past four years there has been a 16% average decline in illicit drug use among young teens, with marijuana use showing the steepest decline. The annual survey, previously known as the "National Household Survey on Drug Abuse," measures the use of tobacco and alcohol as well as illegal drugs among a 67,500-member sample age 12 and older. The survey did not show that much progress had been made in discouraging underage drinking or tobacco use. The resulting data are the government's primary source of information on substance use among the civilian, noninstitutionalized population. Parents play a significant role in dissuading young teens from using drugs, said John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Although 4.6% of teens who said their parents "strongly disapproved" of drug use reported that they used marijuana, five times as many teens who said their parents would not strongly disapprove used the drug. Progress made, but still a ways to goWalters spoke at a Sept. 6 briefing to release the survey and mark the start of a monthlong observance of the gains made by those in recovery from alcohol and drug abuse as well as their treatment providers. Among the group with the highest rate of drug use, the 18- to 25-year-olds, marijuana use also had declined, but that good news was overshadowed by the increasing rates of prescription drug abuse among this group, according to the survey data.
Those 18 to 25 have the highest rates of drug use.
"Most say they are getting drugs from the medicine cabinets of their families and friends," Walters said. "Many of these are unused medications that should have been properly disposed of," added Terry Cline, PhD, administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, who also spoke at the briefing. SAMHSA soon will launch a public education campaign that will detail how unused medications may be safely discarded. Information will be distributed by more than 6,000 pharmacies, Dr. Cline said. The upward spiral since 2002 in drug use among people older than 50 is a surprise. "We've never seen that before," Walters said. "This was typically a problem of youth." A push on preventing the initiation of substance abuse among the young is called for to prevent this carryover of use into middle age, he said. "Although the survey results are encouraging, they show there is a long way to go before addiction services are treated with the same importance as are other medical conditions," Dr. Cline said. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Teens continue 4-year drop in useThe 2006 survey found 9.8% of youths age 12-17 were current drug users. Marijuana was the substance of choice (6.7%), followed by nonmedical use of prescription drugs (3.3%), inhalants (1.3%), hallucinogens (0.7%) and cocaine (0.4%). Drug use in past month, ages 12 to 17:
Source: "2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health," The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, September Drug abuse among young adultsPrescription drug misuse is the second-highest drug threat in the nation, with 7 million people of all ages reporting nonmedical use of such substances. In 75% of cases, narcotic analgesics such as oxycodone or Vicodin are the drugs abused. Illicit psychotherapeutic use, ages 18 to 25:
Source: "2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health," The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, September Older adults still usingDrug use among adults ages 50 to 54 rose 76% from 2002 to 2006. Rather than indicating new users, the increase likely reflects holdover from drug use patterns established in the 1970s, White House officials said when releasing findings of the drug survey. Drug use in past month, ages 50 to 54:
Source: "2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health," The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, September No change in alcohol and tobacco useFew gains in fighting underage drinking and tobacco use were noted in the government's survey of teens. In 2006, nearly 11 million of the 12- to 20-year-olds surveyed, or 28.3%, reported drinking alcohol the previous month. Of them, approximately 7.2 million, or 19%, said they were binge drinkers and 2.4 million, or 6.2%, said they were heavy drinkers. Current Alcohol and Tobacco use by age group:
Note: The rate of use for both alcohol and tobacco increases with age throughout the teen and young adult periods. These use rates decrease among those older than 25. Source: "2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health," Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, September Copyright 2007 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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