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Drug Use Among American High School Students, and Other Young Adults, National Trends Through 1985

NCJ Number
118212
Author(s)
L D Johnston; P M O'Malley; J G Bachman
Date Published
1986
Length
237 pages
Annotation
Since 1985, the decline in the use of a number of illicit drugs among high school seniors, college students, and young adults has reversed.
Abstract
Among high school seniors only, there appears to be an increase in the use of opiates other than heroin. Marijuana, cocaine, and stimulants are the three classes of illicit drugs which now impact an appreciable proportions of young Americans in their late teens and twenties. Heavy college drinking among males in college is common and becoming more common, but among high school students there is a decline in such behavior. The use of cigarettes has remained stable, but within the college population there is a substantial sex difference in smoking rates: The female daily smoking rate is 17.5 percent compared with 10.0 percent for males. Rates of involvement in illicit drugs is still extremely high. 34 tables, 12 notes, and 11 references.