The Partnership at Drugfree.org Releases 2010 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study
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May 13, 2011
The 22nd annual Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS) confirms an upward trend in drug use among adolescents and highlights that underage drinking has become more normalized among this group. The data reported can serve as a context for understanding substance use attitudes and behavior among college students and can assist institutions of higher education in determining priority prevention initiatives.
According to the 2010 PATS data:
- Adolescents view drinking alcohol—even heavy drinking—as less risky than using other substances.
- Weak perceptions of risk and a perceived “normalization” of underage drinking underlie the PATS survey data on adolescent alcohol use.
- Almost half of teens (45 percent) reported they do not see a “great risk” in daily heavy drinking.
- There was a significant 67 percent increase in the number of teens who reported using ecstasy in the past year (from 6 percent in 2008 to 10 percent in 2010).
- Past-year marijuana use among adolescents increased 22 percent (from 32 percent in 2008 to 39 percent in 2010).
- One in four teens (25 percent) reported taking a prescription drug not prescribed to them by a doctor at least once in their lives.
The full study report is available on the Partnership at Drugfree.org Web site.