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Prevalence. In 2004, 10.6 percent
of adolescents aged 12 to 17 years reported using illicit drugs
in the past month. The use of illicit drugs within the past month
increased with age. Among those aged 12 to 13 years, 3.8 percent
reported past-month use, compared to 10.9 percent of those aged
14 to 15 years and 17.3 percent of those aged 16 to 17 years. Rates
of pastmonth illicit drug use were similar among non-Hispanic White,
non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic adolescents (ranging from 9.3 to
11.1 percent); American Indian/Alaska Native adolescents had the
highest rate of past-month use (26.0 percent), while Asian adolescents
had the lowest (6.0 percent).
Alcohol is the most commonly used drug among adolescents,
with 17.6 percent reporting past-month use in 2004. Marijuana is
the most commonly used illicit drug (7.6 percent), followed by the
nonmedical use of psychotherapeutic drugs, such as pain relievers,
tranquilizers, and stimulants (3.6 percent). Marijuana use is more
common among male adolescents than their female counterparts (8.1
versus 7.1 percent), while prescription drug abuse is more common
among females (4.1 versus 3.2 percent).
In 2004, 47.5 percent of adolescents who smoked
cigarettes in the past month also used an illicit drug, compared
to only 5.6 percent of those who didn’t smoke. Among those adolescents
who both smoked cigarettes and used alcohol, 58.8 percent also used
an illicit drug.
Perception of Risk and Access to Drugs.
In 2004, 35.0 percent of adolescents perceived smoking
marijuana once a month to be a great risk, while 49.6 percent perceived
the same risk regarding cocaine use. Smoking one or more packs of
cigarettes a day was considered a great risk by 67.5 percent of
adolescents, which represented a significant increase over the past
year (from 64.2 percent). Drinking five or more drinks on one or
two occasions per week was considered to be a great risk by 40.9
percent of adolescents.
In 2004, 52.2 percent of adolescents reported
that marijuana would be fairly or very easy to obtain. The same
was reported by 24.4 percent of teens regarding cocaine, 16.9 percent
for LSD, and 14.0 percent for heroin. Just over 16 percent of adolescents
reported being approached by someone selling drugs in the past month.
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Bar Chart: Past Month Drug Use Among Adolescents Aged 12-17:
2004
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