Statistics

In 2008, more than one fifth (23.3 percent) of persons aged 12 or older participated in binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as having five or more drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the 30 days prior to the survey.

Past year Ecstasy use shows a 67 percent increase (from 6 percent in 2008 to 10 percent in 2009)

Past year marijuana use shows a 19 percent increase (from 32 percent in 2008 to 38 percent in 2009).

Those saying that “friends usually get high at parties” increased from 69 percent to 75 percent over the same time period.

Among the parents surveyed for the PATS study, 20 percent say their child (ages 10-19) has already used drugs or alcohol beyond an “experimental” level. Among parents of teens ages 14-19, that percentage jumps to 31 percent.

Among those parents of teens who have used, nearly half (47 percent) either waited to take action or took no action at all.

Research tells us that kids in grades 7-12 who learn a lot about the dangers of drugs from their parents are up to 50 percent less likely to ever use.

About 1 in 5 teens in grades 9-12 (20 percent) or 3.2 million reporting abuse of a prescription medication at least once in their lives.

Source: http://www.drugfree.org

SAMHSA Statistics (2008)

Current, Binge, and Heavy Alcohol Use among Persons Aged 12 to 20, by Gender: 2008

Source: http://www.oas.samhsa.gov

75 percent of high school students nationwide have used addictive substances, such as cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, cocaine or prescription drugs. And these numbers don’t include incarcerated adolescents or those who have dropped out of school.

Pills are the new drug of choice for kids. A recent survey revealed that young people 12 and older are abusing prescription drugs at greater rates than cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, and methamphetamine combined. Only marijuana abuse is more common.

Every day approximately 7,000 young people abuse a prescription narcotic for the first time.

In a recent survey, 55 percent of 12 to 17 year olds said they obtained prescription drugs from a relative or friend for free; 9 percent paid a friend or relative; and 5 percent took drugs from a friend or relative without asking. Less than 5 percent obtained the illicit drugs from a dealer, and approximately 18 percent obtained the prescription from a doctor.

Children with involved parents have a 50 percent lesser chance of trying and using drugs⁶

Source:  Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services., Pub. No. 10-4586, Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume I (2010).