"Holding young people responsible for underage drinking is like holding fish responsible for dying in a polluted stream." - National Institute on Drug Abuse reports good news!

Overall, the results are very positive—

From 2006 to 2007, the percentage of 8th graders reporting lifetime use of any illicit drug declined from 20.9% to 19.0%. Reported past year use among 8th graders declined from 14.8% to 13.2%.

Past year use has fallen by 44% among 8th graders since the peak year of 1996.

Past year use has fallen 27% among 9th graders and 15% among 12th graders since the peak year of 1997.

Cigarette smoking continues to fall to the lowest rate in the survey’s history. Between 2006 and 2007, declines were observed in lifetime, past month, and daily cigarette use among 8th graders. Although there were no 1-year declines, 10th and 12th grades have continued a long term trend of declining cigarette use.

Since 2006, past year steroid use decreased in 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined from 1.3% to 1.1%.

Methamphetamine abuse continues to decline—-between 2006 and 2007, lifetime and past year use among 8th and 12th graders decreased.

A substantial long-term decline was observed in past year alcohol use among 8th graders, down to 31.8% from its peak of 46.8% in 1994. Additionally, past year use of flavored alcoholic beverages among 10th graders decreased from 48.8% in 2006 to 45.9% in 2007.

Areas of Concern:

In 2007, 15.4% of 12th graders reported using a prescription drug non-medical within the past year. Vicodin continues to be abused at unacceptably high levels.

CTCADA offers both adolescent intervention and treatment programs. Education, individual counseling, family therapy, group counseling and referral to other resources are all part of a comprehensive effort to prevent or intervene in youth alcohol and drug abuse. Call us at 254-690-4455!