Teen prescription opioid, cigarette and alcohol use down since 2013

Cigarette, alcohol and prescription opioid abuse fell among teens since 2013, according to data published in the 2014 survey, Monitoring the Future, released by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

The survey measured drug use and attitudes among 41,551 eighth, tenth and twelfth graders from 377 public and private schools.

Nora D. Volkow

“With the rates of many drugs decreasing, and the rates of marijuana use appearing to level off, it is possible that prevention efforts are having an effect,” Nora D. Volkow, MD, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), said in a press release. “It is now more important than ever for the public health community to continue to educate teens, parents, teachers, community leaders, the media and health care providers about the specific harms of drug use among teens, whose brains are still developing.”

Use of synthetic marijuana, bath salts and alcohol have continued to decrease, according to the release. There was also a drop in the perceived availability of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, powder cocaine, crystal methamphetamine and prescription painkillers over the past few years.

Concerns remain regarding the use of e-cigarettes, with 8.7% of eighth graders, 16.2% of tenth graders and 17.1% of twelfth graders using them in the past month. Hookah usage has increased among twelfth graders.

Although marijuana use has remained stable, 36.1% of high school seniors said that the habit puts them at risk vs. what 52.4% of teens said 5 years ago. However, 56.7% of twelfth graders disapprove of occasional marijuana smoking as opposed to 73.4% who disapprove of regular marijuana smoking.

“This year’s Monitoring the Future data show promising signs on the declining rates of adolescent substance use, and reinforce the need to continue efforts on prevention, treatment and recovery,” Acting Director of the National Drug Control Policy, Michael Botticelli, said in the release.

For more information:

2014 Monitoring the Future Survey Results. Accessed Dec. 16, 2014.