Teen drug abuse

Abuse of prescription drugs continues to be a major problem among teenagers, although fewer are smoking cigarettes, the 2008 Monitoring the Future survey reported last week.

The survey, conducted for 33 years, found that nearly 10% of high school seniors reported nonmedical use of Vicodin and 4.7% reported abusing OxyContin. Both are strong opioid pain pills. Seven of the top 10 drugs abused by high school seniors were prescription or over-the-counter medications.

“While the long-term general decline [in drug abuse] is encouraging, especially for cigarettes and alcohol, some of the other findings this year amplify our concerns for potential problems in the future -- especially the nonmedical use of prescription drugs,” said Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which funds the study, in a statement. Monitoring the Future is conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan.

The survey found that marijuana use has leveled off after a decade-long decline. Cigarette smoking is at its lowest point since the survey began -- though more than 1 in 10 high school seniors say they smoke daily and 5.4% smoke more than a half a pack a day.

Monitoring the Future

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