Return to the PIE Home PageA nationwide survey annually asks high school seniors about their drug use. According to this survey, between 1980 and 1992, use of any illicit drugs dropped from 37.2% to 14.4%. However, since 1992, there has been a significant increase in the use of illicit drugs. Between 1992 and 1997, illicit drug use increased from 14.4% to 26.2%. These rates signify the percentage of seniors who reported usage of a specific illicit drug within thirty days prior to the survey.
Marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes have become more popular in recent years. In 1992, 11.9% of high school seniors surveyed reported having used marijuana in the last 30 days, but in 1997, 23.7% reported using the drug. Meanwhile, alochol use reached 52.7% in 1997. Cigarette use has steadily increased and was reported at 36.5% in 1997, its highest level since 1975, when 36.7% of high school seniors reported using cigarettes in the last 30 days.
The Monitoring the Future Study reports that drug use among young people is expected to escalate in the future due to lack of publicity concerning the dangers of drugs and the glamorization of drug use in the media and entertainment industries.
Substance 1975 1980 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 Any Illicit 30.7 37.2 29.7 27.1 24.7 21.3 19.7 17.2 Drug Marijuana 27.1 33.7 25.7 23.4 21.0 18.0 16.7 14.0 /Hashish Inhalants NA 1.4 2.2 2.5 2.8 2.6 2.3 2.7 Hallucinogens 4.7 3.7 2.5 2.5 2.5 2.2 2.2 2.2 Cocaine 1.9 5.2 6.7 6.2 4.3 3.4 2.8 1.9 Crack NA NA NA NA 1.3 1.6 1.4 0.7 Heroin 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.2 0.3 0.2 Other Opiates 2.1 2.4 2.3 2.0 1.8 1.6 1.6 1.5 Stimulants 8.5 12.1 6.8 5.5 5.2 4.6 4.2 3.7 Sedatives 5.4 4.8 2.4 2.2 1.7 1.4 1.6 1.4 Tranquilizers 4.1 3.1 2.1 2.1 2.0 1.5 1.3 1.2 Alcohol 68.2 72.0 65.9 65.3 66.4 63.9 60.0 57.1 Cigarettes 36.7 30.5 30.1 29.6 29.4 28.7 28.6 29.4 Steroids NA NA NA NA NA NA 0.8 1.0
Substance 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 Any Illicit 16.4 14.4 18.3 21.9 23.8 24.6 26.2 Drug Marijuana 13.8 11.9 15.5 19.0 21.2 21.9 23.7 /Hashish Inhalants 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.7 3.2 2.5 2.5 Hallucinogens 2.2 2.1 2.7 3.1 4.4 3.5 3.9 Cocaine 1.4 1.3 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.3 Crack 0.7 0.6 0.7 0.8 1.0 1.0 0.9 Heroin 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.6 0.5 0.5 Other Opiates 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.5 1.8 2.0 2.3 Stimulants 3.2 2.8 3.7 4.0 4.0 4.1 4.8 Sedatives 1.5 1.2 1.3 1.8 2.3 2.3 2.1 Tranquilizers 1.4 1.0 1.2 1.4 1.8 2.0 1.8 Alcohol 54.0 51.3 48.6 50.1 51.3 50.8 52.7 Cigarettes 28.3 27.8 29.9 31.2 33.5 34.0 36.5 Steroids 0.8 0.6 0.7 0.9 0.7 0.7 1.0
Note: "Any Illicit Drug" refers to marijuana, hallucinogens, cocaine, and heroin or any use of other opiates, stimulants, sedatives, or tranquilizers not under a doctor's orders. It does not include alcohol or cigarettes. In 1993, questionnaires regarding alcohol use changed the meaning of "drink" to more than a few sips."
Source: University of Michigan, Institute for Social Research, Monitoring the Future Study
Filename: PS-007