| The availability of drugs at schools has increased over | | | | Cigarettes are the next most common drugs abused |
| the last ten years although the overall use of illicit drugs | | | | by teenagers. Most teens assume they can quit |
| has declined. Yet too many teenagers are still abusing | | | | smoking at will. Instead they often find themselves |
| drugs. In the National Institute on Drug Abuse 2005 | | | | addicted. Few people start smoking after the teenage |
| Monitoring the Future survey researchers found that | | | | years. |
| 50% of high school seniors report some use of an illicit | | | | Marijuana has been used by 44% of seniors. The |
| drug during their life. | | | | NIDA reports that 60% of teens that do use drugs use |
| Drugs are easily obtained and teenagers know who | | | | marijuana. The most recent survey found that fewer |
| they can contact to get them. | | | | eighth graders today see a risk in smoking marijuana |
| The Bureau of Justice reports that 85% of teens say | | | | than in the past. |
| they know where to get marijuana and 55% know | | | | Inhalants are the most commonly abused illegal drug |
| how to get amphetamines. Knowledge of drug | | | | among those in middle school with 17.1% of eight |
| availability is similar regardless of race or location. | | | | graders having tried them. Inhalants are cheap and |
| Students living in rural, suburban, and urban areas all | | | | easily purchased. Most of them are common |
| reported similar levels of drug availability at about 35% | | | | household substances like paint thinners, glues, spray |
| overall. Even more frightening is that 29% of students | | | | paint, whipped cream dispensers, hair sprays and other |
| say that someone has "offered, sold, or given them an | | | | substances. |
| illegal drug on school property." | | | | Prescription Drug use among teenagers has been |
| Some officials believe that the percentages of actual | | | | rising at a rate of 25% per year since 2001. Most |
| drug abuse are low because of the number of | | | | teens take prescription drugs because of personal or |
| teenagers that have dropped out or are truant are not | | | | family-related stress. |
| represented in the survey. These teenagers often | | | | Many teenagers are getting the message through |
| have a higher involvement with drugs than those still in | | | | school, parents, and the media that drugs are harmful. |
| school. | | | | But many are still not receiving or are choosing to |
| Alcohol is the most common substance used, with | | | | ignore the message. The best way to combat |
| 75% of seniors having at least tried alcohol and 23% | | | | teenage drug abuse is by education that means |
| within the last month. Alcohol use is often glamorized in | | | | consistently talking about drugs both formally and |
| the media and teens try to imitate the behaviors they | | | | informally. |
| see. | | | | |