Monitoring the Future Study Releases 2009 Teen Drug and Alcohol Use Data

Each week, the Higher Education Center showcases recent developments in the field of AOD abuse and violence prevention in higher education that may include new data and resources, upcoming events and programs, funding opportunities, and learning opportunities. To see a listing of previous This Week! features, visit the This Week! archive.

January 15, 2010

The University of Michigan Monitoring the Future program announced the 2009 survey results from in-school surveys of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students. Marijuana use among U.S. adolescents has been increasing gradually over the past two years (three years among 12th graders) following years of declining use. Alcohol use has generally been in a long-term, gradual decline at all three grade levels, with 30-day (or past month) prevalence having fallen from recent peak levels by over 40 percent among 8th graders, by over 25 percent among 10th graders, and by about one-sixth among 12th graders. This year only the 8th graders showed a continuation of the decline, while alcohol use in the upper grades leveled off.

More information can be viewed at www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/09data.html#2009data-drugs.