NCJ Number
146075
Date Published
1993
Length
202 pages
Annotation
This is the second volume in a two-volume set reporting the results of surveys from the Monitoring the Future (MF) study of drug use among U.S. secondary school students, college students and young adults.
Abstract
The MF study assessed the prevalence of drug use among college students and young adults, attitudes and beliefs about drug use, and the social milieu for young adults. Surveys were conducted between 1975 and 1992 by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research. Over the survey period, an appreciable decline was observed in the number of illicit drugs used by high school seniors and even larger declines in drug use were noted for college students and young adults. A decline in the use of cocaine and crack occurred in the 1987-1988 timeframe. By 1992, eighth graders exhibited increases in marijuana, cocaine, LSD, hallucinogen, and inhalant use. Changes in perceived risk and disapproval were important causes of the declines. Beliefs and attitudes about drug use were probably affected by the amount and nature of public attention focused on the drug issue. Despite the reported declines in drug use, the surveys found that over 75 percent of young adults have tried an illicit drug by their late 20's and that over 30 percent of young people have tried cocaine by age 27. In 1992, about 1.9 percent of high school seniors smoked marijuana daily, and 28 percent of seniors had five or more drinks in a row at least once in the prior 2 weeks. About 28 percent of high school seniors were current cigarette smokers in 1992, and 17 percent were current daily smokers. The social milieu of young adults is discussed in terms of peer norms and pressures, exposure to drug use by friends and others, and perceived drug availability. 27 tables and 48 figures