Teen drug & alcohol abuse up in NC; first time in decade

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America/MetLife Foundation Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) shows the first reversal in the consistent decline of teen drug and alcohol abuse since 1998.

The number of teens in grades 9-12 that used alcohol in the past month is up to nearly 40 percent. Past year Ecstasy has increased a drastic 67 percent. Teen marijuana use in the past year has also spiked roughly 20 percent.

Underlying these increases are negative shifts in teen attitudes about the acceptability of drug use and drinking. Now 75 percent of teens agree “friends usually get high at parties.”

Abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drug abuse has remained steady with still 1 in 5 teens in grades 9-12 reporting abuse at least once. More than half (56%) of all teens believe prescription drugs are easier to get than illegal ones.

The PATS study also shows a corresponding drop in parental involvement and action with only 47 percent of parents of teens who use only “wanted” to take action or took not action at all.

Partnership for a Drug-Free NC’s C.E.O., Bert Wood, responded saying, “We know use increases when the perceived risk decreases. Some may reason an increase after a 12 year decline is merely a pendulum swing, but we think it is unacceptable. The statistics are alarming and the charge to ‘step up’ prevention efforts is now even greater. Clearly families, faith communities, education professionals, law enforcement, and media groups must do even more.”

For the full findings of the 2009 Parents Attitude Tracking Study, visit drugfreenc.org.

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