STATISTICS ON TEENAGE DRUG USE

By: Raul Rodriguez, Patty Glass, and Celia Garcia

National Survey on Drug Use and Health

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2v1hznCx_s&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PLC764B6888BE9D1DD

STATISTICS ON TEENAGE DRUG USETeen drug use is a reality in most schools. Alcohol is by far the greatest drug in use among high school students. Of other drugs, marijuana is the most commonly used drug among teens. Even though most teens do not use drugs every day, the truth is that most teens have had some sort of experience with drugs at least one point in their lives.

Teen drug use According to a survey, teens in high school admitted to using drugs or alcohol in the past 30 days: •Alcohol: 48% •Marijuana: 19.9% •Stimulants: 4.6% •Other opiates: 4.3% •Tranquilizers: 3.1% •Sedatives: 2.9% •Hallucinogens: 1.9% •Cocaine: 2.3% •Inhalants: 1.5% •Steroids: 1.6% •Heroin: 0.5% •http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Va7dl_m4UIQTeen Drug Abuse Statistics Sources:"Drug Use: Youth," Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice. [Online.]

The numbers change, however, when teen drug use is expanded to include usage over the past year:

• Alcohol: 70.6% • Marijuana: 34.3% • Stimulants-Uppers: 10% • Other opiates: 9.5% • Tranquilizers: 7.3% • Sedatives: 6.5% • Hallucinogens: 6.2% • Cocaine: 5.3% • Inhalants: 4.2% • Steroids: 2.5% • Heroin: 0.9%• Teen Drug Abuse Statistics Sources: "Drug Use: Youth," Bureau of Justice

Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice.

Teen drug use: marijuana• Marijuana use has increased

since 1992. The past-month use has dramatically increased among teenagers of all ages:

• High school seniors: from 12% in 1992 to 20%

• 10th graders: from 8% in 1992 to 16%

• 8th graders: from 4% in 1992 to 6%

• Indeed, almost half (45.7%) of high school seniors report that they have used marijuana at some point during their teenage years.

• Teen Drug Abuse Statistics Sources: "Drug Use: Youth," Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice.

"Hard" Drugs

In the area of hard drugs, teen drug use has been declining. Use of the strong drugs is much less than it was in the 1960s and 1970s. Indeed, only 8.1% of high school seniors report that they have ever used cocaine, and only 1.5% report any use of heroin. The use of hallucinogens and most opiates is also lower. It is marijuana that causes the greatest amount of concern regarding teen drug use. • Teen Drug Abuse Statistics Sources: "Drug Use: Youth," Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S.

Department of Justice.

Availability of drugs to teenagers

• Even among teens that do not use drugs, it is acknowledged that they are fairly easy to come by. 29% of teens in grades 9 through 12 report that illegal drugs were made available to them on school property. Not only that, 38.4% of teens in public schools report that drugs are readily available (as opposed to 22.4% at private schools). Teens in upper grades report greater access to drugs than do teenagers in lower grades. And 62.9% report that street gangs are present to sell the drugs.

• Teen Drug Abuse Statistics Sources: "Drug Use: Youth," Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice.

Any Questions?

Here are the rates, reported by teens, as to which drugs they knew how to obtain easily:

• Marijuana: 85.8% http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0rYrGUCnjE

• Amphetamines: 55.4% • Cocaine: 47.8% • Barbiturates: 46.3% • Crack: 39.2% • LSD: 33.1% • Tranquilizers: 30.1% • Heroin: 29.6% • Crystal meth: 26.7% • PCP: 24.2% • So, even if teens do not use drugs, it is clear that they are readily

available, either at school or by some other means. And it is also clear that teen drug use, while declining in some areas, is rising as far as marijuana use is concerned.

• Teen Drug Abuse Statistics Sources: "Drug Use: Youth," Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice.

California Health Standards

• Standard 5: Decision Making• 5.1.M Apply a decision-making process

to enhance health.• Standard 4: Interpersonal

Communication• 4.1.S Demonstrate effective negotiation

skills for avoiding dangerous and risky situations.

• Standard 2: Analyzing Influences• 2.2.S Analyze the influence of alcohol

and other drug use on personal, family, and community safety.

• Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication

• 4.1.A Demonstrate assertive communication skills to resist pressure to use alcohol, tobacco, and other

• drugs.• 4.2.A Use effective refusal and

negotiation skills to avoid riding in a car or engaging in other risky

• behaviors with someone who has been using alcohol or other drugs.

Resources1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZF4-PgrMRtM2. New York Times articles about drugs that students are

taking to improve test score and study longer.3. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/10/education/seeking-ac

ademic-edge-teenagers-abuse-stimulants.html?_r=14. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2012/06/10/education

/study-drugs-popular-among-high-school-students.htmlResources Available in Riversidehttp://www.interveneteen.com/resources.htmVarious professional resources http://www.realoccupational.com/Drug-Testing/teenage-drug-testingRegarding Drug testingwww.Teenhelp.comThis site discusses various topics to help parents and teens.

Use of standards in a lesson plan.

Standard 4 : Interpersonal Communication 4.1.a, 4.2.a 4.1.sStandard 5 : Decision Making 5.1.m Let’ talk about it!Discuss drugs on campus and have students interact as a group.Have students come up with ways to say “No – thanks” without feeling pressured to say “yes- sure”.Have students write a short script and role play positive ways to say no – including asking the other student to participate in a healthy activity.