Press Release

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The following are highlights from the 2006 Monitoring the Future (MTF) study from the University of Michigan. These data measure progress toward achieving the President’s five-year goal for reductions in youth drug use. The MTF survey is an ongoing report of drug use and behaviors among high-school aged children. The study gathers data from approximately 50,000 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students every year to determine their drug use rates and attitudes.

Fewer Young People in America are Using Illegal Drugs

• Over the past five years, there has been a 23 percent reduction in the number of young people using illegal drugs.

• This reduction means that there are approximately 840,000 fewer young people using drugs in 2006 compared to 2001.

Youth Use of Marijuana, Meth and Steroids Are Down Dramaticaly

• Past-month use of marijuana has decreased by 24.7 percent over the past five years.

• Past-month use of methamphetamine has decreased by 50 percent since 2001 (.7%).

• The prevalence rates for meth use in all categories, for all three grades is either the lowest or among the lowest recorded in the 32-year history of the MTF study.

• The use of steroids was down 40.2 percent, 36.8 percent, and 20.6 percent for lifetime, past year, and past month use, respectively.

LSD and Ecstasy Use by Young People Also Continue to Decline

• Declines in hallucinogens LSD and Ecstasy since 2001 have been dramatic, declining as much as by 50 percent to two-thirds.

• Declines in LSD use in all three prevalence periods are nearly two-thirds: 62.1 percent, 65.9 percent, and 60.0 percent for lifetime, past year, and past 30 day use, respectively.

• Declines in the use of ecstasy are nearly as large: 44.8 percent, 54.7 percent, and 56.3 percent for lifetime, past year, and past 30 day use, respectively.

Alcohol and Tobaco Use are Down

• Lifetime, past year, and past month use of alcohol declined 13.0 percent, 13.0 percent, and 12.8 percent, respectively

• Lifetime and past month use of cigarettes were down by over one-quarter: 28.8 percent (from 49.1% to 35.0%) and 28.9 percent (from 20.3% to 14.4%).

Prescription Drug Abuse Remains Troubling

• Past-year use of OxyContin among 8th graders almost doubled—increased 92.3 percent since 2002 (the first year the data was collected).

• Lifetime use of sedatives among seniors increased 18.3 percent since 2001 to 10.2 percent—more than one in ten 12th graders.

Last Updated: December 22, 2006