*This is an archive page. The links are no longer being updated. 1992.01.27 : High School Drug Use Data Contact: Mona Brown (301) 443-6245 Jim Miller (301) 443-8956 January 27, 1992 HHS Secretary Louis W. Sullivan, M.D., today announced that the federal government's 17th annual survey of high school seniors shows significant decreases in drug use from 1990 to 1991, with the rate of "any illicit drug use within the past year" down from 33 percent to 29 percent -- or approximately half the 1980 rate. "I am pleased and proud to report," Secretary Sullivan said, "that drug use by America's seniors in 1991 stood at its lowest level since our senior surveys began in 1975." "Overall, the High School Senior Survey agrees with the findings on adolescents in the 1991 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse -- we are making substantial and significant progress in reducing adolescent drug use in the United States," said Governor Bob Martinez, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The survey was conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research under a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a component of the Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration. In 1991, the researchers surveyed 15,483 seniors from public and private school graduating classes of 1991. It showed statistically significant decreases* in: o "current" use (within last 30 days) of: - cocaine, down from 1.9 percent in 1990 to 1.4 percent in 1991, a drop of 73 percent since 1980, - alcohol, down from 57 percent to 54 percent, a 25 percent drop since 1980, o "annual" use of: - any illicit drugs, down from 33 percent in 1990 to 29 percent in 1991, - alcohol, down from 81 percent in 1990 to 78 percent in 1991, - marijuana, down from 27 percent to 24 percent between 1990 and 1991, half the rate of 1980, - cocaine, down from 5.3 percent in 1990 to 3.5 percent in 1991, a drop of nearly three-quarters since 1980, o "lifetime" use of: - any illicit drugs, down from 48 percent in 1990 to 44 percent in 1991, - cocaine, down from 9.4 percent in 1990 to 7.8 percent in 1991, - marijuana, down from 41 percent in 1990 to 37 percent in 1991, - heroin, down from 1.3 percent in 1990 to 0.9 percent in 1991. "Moreover, there were no increases in any drug category from 1990 to 1991," Secretary Sullivan said. "This is the best news we have had since these surveys began," he continued. "It means that the Nation's prevention and education efforts are paying off in genuine progress, and that we are creating an environment in which even trying drugs is becoming unacceptable." Among "the very positive trends," Secretary Sullivan said, there are two areas "where we have concerns because previous gains appear to be leveling off": o "current" users of crack, down 56 percent since the Administration took office, has leveled off at 0.7 percent of seniors, o "daily" users of alcohol, while down by almost half from the earlier peak, remained at 3.6 percent from 1990 to 1991. Frederick K. Goodwin, M.D., ADAMHA administrator, said, "In these two areas, we have reached a point where the remaining users are more likely to represent an addicted or addiction-prone population, often combined with other problems, who will require more outreach and better treatment based in continued research discoveries." James O. Mason, M.D., assistant secretary for health and head of the U.S. Public Health Service, said, "Our young people, with good sense, have responded to the evidence that drugs can limit their futures. Decreased drug use will mean a more able and competitive new generation of workers, doctors, scientists, teachers and managers for our nation -- and for this we have hundreds of volunteer organizations and civic groups, along with hundreds of broadcast outlets, newspapers and magazines, to thank. They have joined the federal government in producing a mighty educational campaign -- that is working. "But this is no time to let down our guard. Nor should we forget that there are persisting problems among drop-outs and other groups that need attention." High School Senior Perceptions Students have an increased understanding of the harm posed by drugs. For instance, the 1991 survey found an increase in the percentage of seniors who perceive "great risk" in trying marijuana "once or twice," (23 percent in 1990 and 27 percent in 1991) and in smoking marijuana "occasionally" (37 percent in 1990 and 41 percent in 1991). However, the survey found a small decrease in perception of harmfulness from occasional crack use among 1991 seniors. "While 9 out of 10 seniors realize the danger of regular crack use, it is disturbing to see that a number of them (approximately 1 in 4) do not appreciate the harmful effects of occasional use," Dr. Mason said. Other Survey Results o Current use of hallucinogens by high school seniors, while less than half its earlier peak, remained steady at 2.4 percent over the last year. "Current use of LSD remained at 1.9 percent in 1991, disputing anecdotal reports of increased LSD use," Dr. Goodwin said. o Current use of inhalants declined from 2.7 percent in 1990 to 2.4 percent in 1991. However, this decline was not statistically significant. o There has been little change in the proportion of high school seniors who use cigarettes, which has remained around 19 percent since 1984. The proportion of seniors who smoke a half-pack or more daily also has not changed from 11 percent since 1986. The study also showed decreases in annual use of illicit drugs by seniors in the class of 1991. Fewer than 30 percent of seniors had used any illicit drug "within the past year," down from 53 percent in 1980. Only 24 percent of seniors reported annual use of marijuana in 1991, compared to 49 percent in 1980, and use of alcohol within the past year dropped from 88 percent in 1980 to 78 percent in 1991. (In the survey, the category "any illicit drug use" did not include alcohol and cigarette use.) Eighth and Tenth Grade Drug Use In 1991 the high school survey sample was expanded to include approximately 18,000 eighth and 16,000 tenth graders for the first time. "The National Institute on Drug Abuse made a deliberate effort to expand the 1991 study in order to provide baseline information for future tracking of drug use from an earlier age. It is well known that very early drug use is a predictor of later abuse and addiction. Further, these data will allow us to study such questions as the relationship of drug use to dropping out of school," Dr. Goodwin said. The first findings on these age groups show that within the last 30 days: o alcohol was used by 25 percent of eighth graders and 43 percent of tenth graders (compared to 54 percent of seniors), o cocaine was used by 0.5 percent of eighth graders and 0.7 percent of tenth graders (1.4 percent of seniors). Binge drinking -- 5 or more drinks at one sitting -- within the last two weeks was reported by 13 percent of eighth graders and 23 percent of tenth graders (30 percent of seniors). "Some of these findings, such as the fact that almost one quarter of tenth graders report binge drinking, are very troubling. However, these new data can help focus our prevention efforts in order to maintain the positive trends we are so pleased to see in 1991," said Dr. Goodwin. Followup Data on Former Survey Participants The survey also includes data on drug use from a sample of 6,600 members of previous graduating classes one to 10 years after leaving high school. Followup data on these young adults 19-28 years old show decreases in annual use of any illicit drug, which decreased from 31 percent in 1990 to 27 percent in 1991. Annual marijuana use declined from 26 percent in 1990 to 24 percent in 1991. Other illicit drugs showing decreases in annual use in the 1991 survey include cocaine -- both crack and powdered -- MDMA ("Ecstasy"), and stimulants. Followup data on those young adults who are now in college showed that annual use of any illicit drug was down from 33 percent in 1990 to 29 percent in 1991, and of cocaine from 5.6 percent to 3.6 percent. The Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration and its component, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, are within the Public Health Service grouping of agencies within HHS. * -- All changes in use cited in this press release are statistically significant, unless otherwise noted. ###