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The Basics
Commonly Abused Drugs
Prevalence of Past-Year Drug Use Among 12th Graders
2008 Monitoring the Future Study
Findings from recent Monitoring the Future (MTF) surveys indicate that prescription drugs, as well as over the counter cough syrup, are among the most abused drugs by these age groups. Above is a graphic that indicated drug use among 12th graders.
Cocaine
Cocaine is a short-acting stimulant, which can lead abusers to "binge"
(to take the drug many times in a single session). Cocaine abuse can lead to severe medical consequences related to the heart and the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems.
|
8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
3.0 |
4.5 |
7.2 |
| Past Year |
1.8 |
3.0 |
4.4 |
| Past Month |
0.8 |
1.2 |
1.9 |
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on cocaine please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about cocaine use and its health consequences, go to
www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/cocaine.html.
Marijuana
Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit substance. This drug impairs short-term memory and learning, the ability to focus, and coordination. It also increases heart rate, can harm the lungs, and may increase the risk of psychosis in vulnerable individuals.
|
8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
14.6 |
29.9 |
42.6 |
| Past Year |
10.9 |
23.9 |
32.4 |
| Past Month |
5.8 |
13.8 |
19.4 |
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on marijuana please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about marijuana use and its health consequences, go to
www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/marijuana.html.
Cigarettes and Other Nicotine Products*
Nicotine is an addictive stimulant found in cigarettes and other forms of tobacco. Tobacco smoke increases a user's risk of cancer, emphysema, bronchial disorders, and cardiovascular disease. The mortality rate associated with tobacco addiction is staggering. Tobacco use killed approximately 100 million people during the 20th century and, if current smoking trends continue, the cumulative death toll for this century is projected to reach 1 billion.
|
8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
20.5 |
31.7 |
44.7 |
| Past Month |
6.8 |
12.3 |
20.4 |
| Daily |
3.1 |
5.9 |
11.4 |
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on nicotine please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about nicotine use and its health consequences, go to
www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/nicotine.html.
* 2008 Monitoring the Future data for
past-year use is unavailable.
Heroin
Heroin is a powerful opiate drug that produces euphoria and feelings of relaxation. It slows respiration and can increase the risk of serious infectious diseases, especially when taken intravenously. Other opioid drugs include morphine, OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percodan, which have legitimate medical uses; however, their nonmedical use or abuse can result in the same harmful consequences as heroin abuse.
|
8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
1.4 |
1.2 |
1.3 |
| Past Year |
0.9 |
0.8 |
0.7 |
| Past Month |
0.4 |
0.4 |
0.4 |
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on heroin please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about heroin use and its health consequences, go to
www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/heroin.html.
Prescription Medications and Over-the-Counter Medications
Prescription medications and some over-the-counter medications are increasingly being abused (used for nonmedical purposes). This practice can not only be addictive, but in some cases lethal. Among the most disturbing aspects of this emerging trend is its prevalence among teenagers and young adults, as well as the common misperception that because physicians prescribe these medications, they are safe even when used not as prescribed. Commonly abused classes of prescription drugs include opioid painkillers, stimulants, and sedatives.
Commonly abused prescription drugs include:
- Opioids are usually prescribed for pain relief. Common opioids include hydrocodone (e.g., Vicodin), oxycodone (e.g., OxyContin), morphine, fentanyl, and codeine.
- Stimulants: Methylphenidate (Ritalin®, Concerta®, Focalin®, and Metadate®) and amphetamines (Adderall®, Dexedrine®) are stimulants commonly prescribed for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.
- Depressants are usually prescribed to promote sleep or to reduce anxiety. They include barbiturates (e.g., phenobarbitol) and benzodiazepines (e.g., Valium® and Xanax®). Other sleep medications that are well advertised, such as Ambien®, Sonata®, and Lunesta®, have a slightly different mechanism of action than the benzodiazepines and may have less potential for addiction.
Amphetamines
Amphetamines, including methamphetamine, are powerful stimulants that can produce feelings of euphoria and alertness. Methamphetamine's effects are particularly long lasting and harmful to the brain. Amphetamines can cause high body temperature and can lead to serious heart problems and seizures.
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8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Opiated Painkillers: OxyContin |
|
|
|
| Past Year |
2.1 |
3.6 |
4.7 |
| Opiated Painkillers: Vicodin |
|
|
|
| Past Year |
2.9 |
6.7 |
9.7 |
Sedatives (Barbituates)1 |
|
|
|
| Lifetime |
––– |
––– |
8.5 |
| Past Year |
––– |
––– |
5.8 |
| Past Month |
––– |
––– |
2.8 |
Tranquilizers2 |
|
|
|
| Lifetime |
3.9 |
6.8 |
8.9 |
| Past Year |
2.4 |
4.6 |
6.2 |
| Past Month |
1.2 |
1.9 |
2.6 |
Ritalin |
|
|
|
| Past Year |
1.6 |
2.9 |
3.4 |
Cough or Cold Medicines3 |
|
|
|
| Past Year |
3.6 |
5.3 |
5.5 |
Methamphetamine |
|
|
|
| Lifetime |
2.3 |
2.4 |
2.8 |
| Past Year |
1.2 |
1.5 |
1.2 |
| Past Month |
0.7 |
0.7 |
0.6 |
Amphetamines |
|
|
|
| Lifetime |
6.8 |
9.0 |
10.5 |
| Past Year |
4.5 |
6.4 |
6.8 |
| Past Month |
2.2 |
2.8 |
2.9 |
1 Also known as "downers" and "sleeping aids."
2 The most commonly reported drugs in this category are Valium and Xanax.
3 Used with the intent to get high.
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on methamphetamines please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about methamphetamine use and its health consequences, go to www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/methamphetamine.html.
Anabolic Steroids
Steroids, which can also be prescribed for certain medical conditions, are abused to increase muscle mass and to improve athletic performance or physical appearance. Serious consequences of abuse can include heart disease, liver problems, stroke, infectious diseases, depression, and suicide. Less serious side effects include severe acne.
|
8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
1.4 |
1.4 |
2.2 |
| Past Year |
0.9 |
0.9 |
1.5 |
| Past Month |
0.5 |
0.5 |
1.0 |
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on anabolic steroids please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about anabolic steroid use and its health consequences, go to www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/steroids.html.
Inhalants
Inhalants are volatile substances found in many household products, such as oven cleaners, gasoline, spray paints, and other aerosols, that induce mind-altering effects. Inhalants are extremely toxic and can damage the heart, kidneys, lungs, and brain. Even a healthy person can suffer heart failure and death within minutes of a single session of the prolonged sniffing of an inhalant.
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8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
15.7 |
12.8 |
9.9 |
| Past Year |
8.9 |
5.9 |
3.8 |
| Past Month |
4.1 |
2.1 |
1.4 |
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on inhalants please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about inhalant use and its health consequences, go to
www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/inhalants.html.
Alcohol
Alcohol consumption can damage the brain and most body organs. Areas of the brain that are especially vulnerable to alcohol-related damage are the cerebral cortex (largely responsible for our higher brain functions, including problemsolving and decisionmaking), the hippocampus (important for memory and learning), and the cerebellum (important for movement coordination).
|
8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
38.9 |
58.3 |
71.9 |
| Past Year |
32.1 |
52.5 |
65.5 |
| Past Month |
15.9 |
28.8 |
43.1 |
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on alcohol please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about alcohol use and its health consequences, visit the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Web site at www.niaaa.nih.gov.
Club Drugs and Hallucinogens
Ecstasy (MDMA) produces both stimulant and mind-altering effects. It can increase body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and heart-wall stress. Ecstasy may also be toxic to nerve cells.
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8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
| Lifetime |
2.4 |
4.3 |
6.2 |
| Past Year |
1.7 |
2.9 |
4.3 |
| Past Month |
0.8 |
1.1 |
1.8 |
LSD is one of the most potent hallucinogenic, or perception-altering, drugs. Its effects are unpredictable, and abusers may see vivid colors and images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but do not exist. Abusers also may have traumatic experiences and emotions that can last for many hours. Some short-term effects can include increased body temperature, heart rate, and blood pressure; sweating; loss of appetite; sleeplessness; dry mouth; and tremors.
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8th Graders |
10th Graders |
12th Graders |
Rohypnol |
|
|
|
| Lifetime |
0.7 |
0.9 |
––– |
| Past Year |
0.5 |
0.4 |
1.3 |
| Past Month |
0.1 |
0.2 |
––– |
GHB |
|
|
|
| Past Year |
1.1 |
0.5 |
1.2 |
Ketamine |
|
|
|
| Past Year |
1.2 |
1.0 |
1.5 |
Rohypnol and GHB are predominantly central nervous system depressants. Because they are often colorless, tasteless, and odorless, they can be easily added to beverages and ingested unknowingly. Thus, these drugs have come to be known as "date rape" drugs.
Monitoring the Future is updated annually. For the latest Monitoring the Future statistics on club drugs, please visit www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/HSYouthtrends.html.
For more information about these and other club drugs go to www.nida.nih.gov/drugpages/clubdrugs.html.
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