The Importance of a Drug Free Workplace

[BACK]

Another major national survey tracking illicit drug abuse trends is the Monitoring the Future Study. When this annual NIDA-sponsored survey began in 1975, 30.7% of high school seniors reported using an illicit drug in the previous month. This figure climbed to 38.9% in 1978 and 1979, but declined to 14.4% in 1992. Since 1992, this number has increased to 25.7% in 2001.

In 1991, the Monitoring the Future Study began surveying 8th and 10th graders. Past month drug use increased from 6.8% in 1992 to 14.6% in 1996 for 8th graders and from 11% in 1992 to 23.2% in 1996 for 10th graders. In 2001, past month drug use among 8th graders decreased to 11.7%.

Increased use of marijuana has been especially pronounced. Between 1992 and 1997, past month use of marijuana increased from 11.9% to 23.7% among 12th graders; 8.1% to 20.5% among 10th graders; and 3.7% to 10.2% among 8th graders.

Reported use of marijuana by high school seniors during the past month peaked in 1978 at 37.1% and declined to its lowest level of 11.9% in 1992.

Since 1998, current estimates of past month use of marijuana have remained relatively unchanged. In 2001, past month marijuana use among 12th, 10th, and 8th graders was estimated at 22.4%, 19.8%, and 9.2%, respectively.

Reported use of Cocaine by high school seniors within the past month increased from 1.9% to 5.8% between 1975 and 1981. The highest level of cocaine use by this group was reported in 1985 at 6.7% and declined to a low of 1.3% in 1992 and 1993. In 2001, past month cocaine use was 2.1% among high school seniors.

Researchers, noting the emergence of crack, included it in the survey in 1986 as a separate question. In 1987, 1.3% of high school seniors reported using crack at least once within the past month. This number decreased to 1.1% in 2001.

Between 1991 and 2001, the use of most major drug types increased among 8th and 10th graders. After 6 years of increases, 8th graders' past month marijuana use began to decrease in 1997, falling to 10.2%. This decline continued through 2001 to 9.2%. The use of inhalants declined after peaking in 1995. In 2001, 8th graders reported past month use of inhalants at 4%, a higher rate than the 2.4% reported by 10th graders and the 1.7% reported by 12th graders.