Text: Partnership for Drug-Free America Survey on Teen Drug Use

27 November 2000

Text: Partnership for Drug-Free America Survey on Teen Drug Use

Marijuana use down; Ecstasy use increases

Fewer American teenagers are smoking marijuana, according to a new survey on illegal drug use, while increasing numbers are experimenting with the synthetic drug Ecstasy. The Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA) released the findings of its 2000 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) November 27.

Almost 7300 teens participated in the survey that produced results consistent with drug use trends revealed over the last several years. Marijuana use has been on the decline since 1997 with 40 percent of teens today saying they had used it at least once, contrasted with a 44 percent usage rate three years ago. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug, according to the press release on the findings provided by PDFA.

In contrast, 10 percent of teens reported a trial use of Esctasy, up from only 5 percent who reported such experimentation in 1995.

In a separate statement, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Barry McCaffrey praised the PDFA survey. He said the findings mean "America's team effort to get the message out on the dangers of drugs is working. Through the efforts of parents, teachers, coaches, clergy, healthcare professionals and community leaders, we are turning the tide of youth drug use one child at a time. But we have serious challenges remaining, as the Partnership findings on increase in use of the drug ecstasy demonstrates."

Further details on the survey results are available at

http://www.drugfreeamerica.org/research/teendrug.asp

Following is the text of the PDFA press release.

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PARTNERSHIP FOR A DRUG-FREE AMERICA

PARTNERSHIP ATTITUDE TRACKING SURVEY

Teens Continuing to Turn Away From Marijuana, But
Small, Increasing Number Take to Ecstasy

Progress in Overall Positive Drug Trend Holding; Ecstasy Use Doubles Since 1995

NEW YORK, Nov. 27th -- Continuing a trend that began three years ago, fewer teenagers in America are smoking marijuana -- the most widely used illicit drug -- but at the same time, a small, increasing number of adolescents is embracing Ecstasy, according to a new, national study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA).

"The shifts we're seeing with marijuana -- which by and large represents the bulk of illicit drug use among kids -- suggest good things for the future," said Richard D. Bonnette, president & CEO of PDFA. "With this particular drug, we appear to be turning a very important corner. But as we turn one corner, troubling developments are coming at us from other directions -- specifically with Ecstasy. While the overall usage numbers are much lower for this drug, the spike we're seeing demands our attention."

Released today via the Internet, the 2000 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) surveyed 7,290 teens across the country (margin of error = 1.5 percent). The nationally projectable study found overall drug use stable between 1999 and 2000, and down significantly since 1997, with trial use and past-year use down by nine percent and holding, and past-month use down 11 percent over that time.

The study, which monitors trends in drug use and important drug-related attitudes that drive drug use, found the most significant declines in marijuana use among teenagers. Since 1997, trial use of marijuana has declined by about 10 percent, a statistically significant decline. (In 2000, 40 percent of teens reported trying marijuana at least once, down significantly from 44 percent in 1997.) Over the same period, past-year use of marijuana has declined by eight percent (from 36 to 33 percent). The most significant decline over the last three years came in regular (or past month) use of marijuana with a 13 percent decline (from 24 to 21 percent).

The survey found teen attitudes and perceptions about marijuana trending in a positive direction with more teens rejecting the drug. This year, more teens believe marijuana will make them lonely (43 percent, up from 38 percent in 1998), boring (32 percent, up from 29) or act stupidly or foolishly (54 percent, up from 51). Fewer see marijuana all around them (47 percent vs. 59 percent in 1997), and fewer believe most people will use the drug (36 percent, down from 41).

Statistically significant changes in marijuana-related attitudes also occurred between 1998 and 2000, and coincide with the launch of a multi-million dollar, anti-drug media campaign, much of which has targeted teens with messages about marijuana -- again, the most widely used illicit drug. (See related news release on survey findings related to the media campaign.) "Fewer teens see marijuana users as cool or popular," said Barbara Delaney, senior vice president and director of research for the Partnership. "When anti-drug attitudes are strong, use of drugs is more likely to decrease."

While use of other illicit drugs is much lower than marijuana, alcohol and tobacco, the study found a small, but increasing number of teens turning to Ecstasy.

Trial use of Ecstasy (methylenedioxy-methamphetamine, MDMA) jumped significantly over the past year, from seven to 10 percent, and has doubled since 1995, when only five percent of teens had ever reported using the drug. A synthetic stimulant usually taken orally in a pill form, Ecstasy -- also known as "X," "E" and "The Love Drug" -- has been flooding into the U.S. from the Netherlands in recent years. "X" is one of the so-called "club drugs" now part of the dance club and all-night rave scene. Trial use of Ecstasy is now on par with teen trial usage rates of cocaine, crack and LSD; now, with recent increases taken into consideration, more teens in the U.S. have experimented with Ecstasy than heroin.

The study also found small, but statistically significant increases in some measures of teen methamphetamine and inhalants use. Use of other illicit drugs -- cocaine, crack, heroin and LSD -- has remained stable, although some remain at or near decade high levels.

"Increases in Ecstasy, meth and inhalant use can be linked to the degree of risk teens associate with these drugs," Delaney said. "We've seen many stories in the media in which teens talk about the benefits of Ecstasy. Research has consistently shown that when anti-drug attitudes are weak, experimentation rates are likely to increase. Clearly, that's what we're seeing here."

"While the overall trend is encouraging, we have to remember that among this group of close to six million teens, one out of every four of them used a drug in the past 30 days," Bonnette said. "This tells us one thing: As long as there are new generations of children coming our way, we simply must do more and invest more in preventing drug use. The country must come to recognize the value of drug education, and to see preventing drug use as an on-going necessity, not an occasional tactical option."

Adolescent drug use in America peaked in 1979, declined steadily throughout the 1980s and began to climb once again in 1991-1992. Drug use among teenagers continued to climb until 1997, and since then has been in a slow, steady decline. Usage rates stabilized between 1999 and 2000.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a private, non-profit coalition of professionals from the communications industry. Best known for its national, anti-drug advertising campaign, the Partnership's mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs through media communication. To date, approximately $3 billion in media exposure and more than 600 ads have been donated to the Partnership's national campaign, making this the single, largest public service ad campaign in history. Beginning in 1998, PDFA advertising began appearing in paid media exposure as part of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, coordinated by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. PDFA accepts no money from alcohol or tobacco manufacturers. Major funding for PDFA is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The Partnership Attitude Tracking Study monitors drug-related behavior and attitudes among children, teens and parents. It is the largest on-going research on drug-related attitudes in the US, and the only on-going drug survey that collects data on children as young as eight and nine. This is the 13th installment of PATS conducted since 1987. For this installment, 7,290 teens completed self-administered, anonymous questionnaires in 2000. Audits & Surveys Worldwide, Inc., one of the largest consumer market research companies in the world, conducts the PATS study for the Partnership.

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