The goal of this survey is to collect data on past month, past year, and lifetime drug use among students in these grade levels. The study concluding in spring 2002 marks the 28th annual study (www.nida.nih.gov/infofax/HSYouthtrends.html). .
The 2002 MTF survey marks the sixth year in a row that drug use among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders remained stable or decreased. This trend began around 1997 and has gradually showed improvement (decline) in all areas of the substances being surveyed. There was really only one area that had a slight increase and that was crack use by 10th graders from 1.8 percent in 2001 to 2.3 percent in 2002. Use of MDMA (ecstasy) dropped for the first time since it was introduced to the survey in 1996, and marijuana use declined to its lowest level in 8 years. The MTF 2002 study surveyed a representative sample of more than 43,000 students in 394 schools across the nation (www.nida.nigh.gov/NIDA_notes/NNVol17N5/Teens.html). .
Another factor worth taking a look at is the gradual decrease in legal drugs used by the youth of our nation. Alcohol and Tobacco have both declined in the MTF 2002 survey. Alcohol has reached record lows in the history of the survey for both 8th and 10th graders. Rates also went down among students who binge drink (five or more drinks in a row). Cigarette and smokeless tobacco have also taken a major hit in recent years, mainly due to the overwhelming concern of American healthcare. Many longtime smokers and nonsmokers suffering from second hand smoke have been plagued with cancer and disease creating more overall awareness towards the issue. Cigarette use declined in each grade and in several categories of use between 2001 and 2002. Much of this decline is because of the proportion of students who have a negative image of smoking. According to Dr. Lloyd Johnston, MTF principal investigator, "Roughly three- quarters of boys and girls in all three grades said they prefer to date nonsmokers.
