| Q: |
What proportion of high school seniors report using drugs? |
| A: |
More than 1 of every 5 high school seniors used marijuana in the past month, and nearly 3 of every 10 used alcohol. |
Self-reported drug use among high school seniors, 2019
| Reference period/drug |
Total |
Male |
Female |
White1 |
Black1 |
Hispanic1 |
| During past month |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Alcohol |
29.3% |
29.8% |
28.5% |
34.9% |
19.4% |
24.4% |
| Marijuana/hashish |
22.3% |
23.0% |
21.1% |
21.3% |
23.8% |
20.4% |
| Vaping marijuana |
14.0% |
14.7% |
13.0% |
13.9% |
8.0% |
14.0% |
| Cigarettes |
5.7% |
6.9% |
4.0% |
7.9% |
3.2% |
4.5% |
| Vaping nicotine |
25.5% |
28.1% |
22.9% |
32.4% |
10.1% |
13.9% |
| During past year |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Any illicit drug use* |
11.5% |
12.4% |
9.7% |
12.5% |
7.2% |
10.1% |
| Amphetamines |
4.5% |
4.9% |
3.8% |
5.7% |
2.7% |
3.6% |
| Ritalin |
1.1% |
1.5% |
0.7% |
0.8% |
0.7% |
1.3% |
| Adderall |
3.9% |
4.8% |
3.0% |
5.1% |
1.7% |
3.1% |
| Methamphetamine |
0.5% |
0.7% |
0.2% |
0.4% |
0.6% |
0.5% |
| Tranquilizers** |
3.4% |
3.2% |
3.4% |
4.0% |
2.3% |
3.0% |
| Cocaine |
2.2% |
2.6% |
1.7% |
2.2% |
0.9% |
2.7% |
| Crack cocaine |
1.0% |
1.4% |
0.7% |
0.8% |
0.9% |
1.3% |
| Inhalants |
1.9% |
2.2% |
1.5% |
1.8% |
1.9% |
1.3% |
| Hallucinogens |
4.6% |
6.1% |
2.7% |
4.5% |
1.9% |
4.0% |
| LSD |
3.6% |
4.9% |
2.1% |
3.4% |
1.6% |
3.2% |
| Steroids |
1.0% |
1.4% |
0.6% |
0.8% |
1.8% |
1.4% |
| Heroin |
0.4% |
0.5% |
0.2% |
0.2% |
0.7% |
0.5% |
Notes: * Other than marijuana.
** Examples of tranquilizers include Valium and Xanax.
1To derive percentages for each racial subgroup, data for the specified year and the previous year have been combined to increase subgroup sample sizes and thus provide more stable estimates.
- With few exceptions, a larger proportion of males reported use in the past month or past year than females.
- Past month use of alcohol and cigarettes was more commonly reported by white students than black or Hispanic students.
Internet citation: OJJDP Statistical Briefing Book. Online. Available: https://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/offenders/qa03510.asp?qaDate=2019.
Released on May 15, 2020.
Data Source: Adapted from Johnston, L. D., Miech, R. A., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., Schulenberg, J. E., & Patrick, M. E. (2020). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975-2019: Overview, key findings on adolescent drug use. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan.
Demographic information adapted from Johnston, L. D., Miech, R. A., O'Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., Schulenberg, J. E., & Patrick, M. E. (2020). Demographic subgroup trends among adolescents in the use of various licit and illicit drugs, 1975-2019 (Monitoring the Future Occasional Paper No. 94). Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan.
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