What's New at LI
LI Staff
Research Projects
Training Services
LI Bookstore
Drug Use Trends
Research Tools
Research Presentations & Posters
Staff Publications
Illinois Addiction Studies Archive
Links
CHS Home > Services > Research & Training > DRUG USE TRENDS
LIFETIME DRUG USE TRENDS: HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS: 1975-1999
| DRUG |
Year of Highest Use (%) | Year of Lowest Use (%) | 1998 Use (%) | Current (1999) Use (%) | 1998-1999 % Change1 |
| Any Illicit Drug | 1981 (65.4) | 1992 (40.7) | 54.1 | 54.7 | +0.6 |
| Cannabis | 1979 (60.4) | 1992 (32.6) | 49.1 | 49.7 |
+0.6 |
| Cocaine | 1985 (17.3) | 1994 (5.9) | 9.3 | 9.8 |
+0.1 |
| Inhalants 2 | 1990 (18) | 1976 (10.3) | 16.5 | 16.0 |
-0.5 |
| Hallucinogens | 1975 (16.3) | 1988 (8.9) | 14.1 | 13.7 |
-0.4 |
| PCP3 | 1979 (12.8) | 1992 (2.4) | 3.9 | 3.4 | no change |
| Stimulants4 Crystal Meth5 |
1981 (32.2) 1998 ( 5.3) |
1992 (13.9) 1990 (2.7) |
16.4 5.3 |
16.3 4.8 |
-0.1 -0.5 |
| Heroin | 1975 ( 2.2) | 1991 (0.9) | 2.0 | 2.0 |
no change |
| Alcohol6 | 1980 (93.2) | 1993 (80.0) | 81.4 | 80.0 |
-1.4 |
| Barbiturates | 1975 (16.9) | 1992 (5.5) | 8.7 | 8.9 |
+0.2 |
| Tranquilizers | 1977 (18.0) | 1992 (6.0) | 8.5 | 9.3 |
+0.8 |
SOURCE: "Monitoring the Future Study,"
Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, 1999.
1 Reported as the change in actual percentage points.
2 Data based on four of five forms in 1976-88; N is four-fifths of N indicated.
Data based on five of six forms in 1989-98; N is five-sixths of N indicated.
3 A specific question regarding PCP has only been included in the survey since
1979. Data based on one form; N is one-fifth of N indicated in 1979-88 and one-sixth of N
indicated in 1989-98. Question text changed slightly in 1987.
4 Beginning in 1982 the question about stimulant use (i.e., amphetamines) was
revised to get respondents to exclude the inappropriate reporting of non-prescription
stimulants. The prevalence rate dropped slightly as a result of this methodological
change. In addition, the name of this category was changed in 1999 from
"stimulants" to "amphetamines." Only drug use which was not under a
doctor’s orders is included here.
5 A specific question regarding methamphetamine has only been included in the
survey since 1990.
6 Data here is for the years 1993-1999 only. A change in the question in 1993 makes comparison with earlier years virtually impossible.