Monitoring the Future: National Results on Adolescent Drug Use. Overview of Key Findings, 2002.

This report presents an overview of the key findings from the Monitoring the Future 2002 nationwide survey of 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students. A particular emphasis is placed on recent trends in the use of licit and illicit drugs. Trends in the levels of perceived risk and personal disapproval associated with each drug--which this study has shown to be particularly important in explaining trends in use--are also presented, as well as trends in perceived availability of the various drugs. A separate section is then presented for each class of drugs. These sections contain graphs showing trends in past-year use. They also show trends in perceived risk, disapproval, and perceived availability of marijuana, inhalants, LSD, cocaine, crack cocaine, amphetamines, heroin, methamphetamine, tranquilizers, barbiturates, club drugs (ecstasy and rohypnol), alcohol, cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and steroids. The surveys generated a more positive picture than has been seen in recent years. Quite a number of illicit drugs showed broad declines, most notably ecstasy for the first time; cigarette smoking dropped sharply in all grades; and drinking alcohol and getting drunk were down in all grades. (Contains 9 tables.) (GCP)