The following are statistics from a variety of research reports, national surveys, and studies which indicate the impact of drug use among youth.

• PRIDE Surveys

• SAMHSA Survey

• CASA Surveys

• Statewide Follow-up

• Preliminary Study Results

• NIDA: Monitoring the Future

PRIDE Surveys: 2003 National Summary
The following graphs depict reports of annual use of marijuana and cocaine during the years 1998 to 2002 from 6th to 12th grade school students. The original data used to create these graphs were found in the 2003 National PRIDE Survey.

Source: PRIDE Questionnaire Report: 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005 National Summary Grades 6 through 12. Bowling Green, Kentucky; 2002. www.pridesurveys.com.

Since 2000, there has been an overall decrease in the annual use of marijuana EXCEPT for grades 6 through 8 where annual use has increased.

Source: PRIDE Questionnaire Report: 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-2003, 2003-2004, 2004-2005 National Summary Grades 6 through 12. Bowling Green, Kentucky; 2002.www.pridesurveys.com.

Since 2000, there has been an increase in the use of cocaine among high school students. This is cause for concern. In 6th grade, there is a dramatic increase in the use of cocaine.

Use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and other illicit drugs by students in high school significantly increased in 2002.

SAMHSA: National Drug Use & Health Survey 2005
http://oas.samhsa.gov/nsduh/2k5nsduh/2k5Results.pdf

In 2005, a majority of youths (90.2%) reported that their parents would strongly disapprove of their trying marijuana once or twice. Current marijuana use was much less prevalent among youths who perceived strong parental disapproval for trying marijuana once or twice than for those who did not (4.6 vs. 27.0%).

Most (59.1%) of the 2.1 million recent marijuana initiates were younger than age 18 when they first used. Among youths aged 12 to 17, an estimated 4.5% had used marijuana for the first time within the past year .

CASA: National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse: Teens and Parents

67% of teens and 60% of parents say drug tests are effective in keeping teens from using illegal drugs.

More than five million of those aged 12- to 17-years (20%) can buy marijuana in an hour or less. Another five million (19%) can buy marijuana within a day (CASA, 2003, National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse VIII: Teens and Parents).

Alcohol is 16 times likelier to be available at parties where parents are NOT present. Illegal drugs are 15 times likelier to be available at parties where parents are NOT present. Marijuana is 29 times likelier to be available at parties where parents are NOT present (CASA, National Survey on American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XI: Teens & Parents. August 2006).

The Effectiveness of Random Drug Testing Programs: A Statewide Follow-Up Study, 2003-2004

94% of Indiana high schools principals in a 2003 survey believed a random drug-testing policy would be effective in discouraging drug and alcohol use by students.

A statistically significant number of Indiana high schools (37/52, 71%) with SDT programs had graduation rates higher than the State average. (Based on 0.001 Z score analysis.)

Institute for Behavior & Health: Report of a Preliminary Study-Elements of a Successful School-Based Student Drug Testing Program

After implementing a student drug testing program, Hunterdon Central Regional High School saw a reduction in cocaine use by seniors from 13% to 4% after 2 years.

Schools in Autauga County, Alabama experienced decreases in marijuana use from 19% to 12% after implementation of student drug testing programs.

What Studies Have Shown About Drug Use Among Teens:

The marijuana used in the 1960's was often quite low in THC content (chemical found in marijuana plants), ranging from .25 to 1%. Marijuana currently available has concentrations nearly 20 times that. These findings suggest the effect of marijuana to be even more severe on developing adolescents in junior and senior high school today.

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Monitoring the Future Survey

Figure 8-4 illustrates that as the perceived risk of marijuana increases, the use of marijuana decreases. The proportion of 12^th graders who reported using marijuana peaked in 1978 and again in 1997, exactly the years in which the perceived risk of regular use was at its lowest. As more teens think that the risk of marijuana is not severe, the use of marijuana rises. One important "risk" is the risk of a positive drug test in an SDT program for students who use drugs. This research clearly shows why raising that particular risk effectively lowers drug use.

Note: High school seniors have been surveyed in the spring of each year since 1975. Each year's data collection takes place in approximately 120 to 146 public and private high schools selected to provide an accurate representative cross section of high school seniors throughout the coterminous United States. Up to 350 seniors in each school are included in the sample.