SURVEY FINDS HIGHER USE OF ECSTASY BY TEENAGERS

Marijuana use among teenagers has dropped for a third straight year, but an
increase in the use of the drug Ecstasy has raised new concerns, according
to a report released yesterday by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

In its 13th survey, the partnership, a nonprofit group, questioned 7,290
students in 7th through 12th grades nationwide. The margin of error is plus
or minus one and a half percentage points.

Use of Ecstasy, a favorite at dance clubs and all-night parties, has
doubled among teenagers since 1995, the survey found. The report found that
the number of teenagers who had tried Ecstasy at least once had increased
to 10 percent from 7 percent over the last year. In contrast, the 40
percent of teenagers saying they had tried marijuana was down from 41
percent last year.

It was the third consecutive decrease in teenage marijuana use since 1997,
when 44 percent said they had used the drug at least once.

"This study confirms the trends we've seen over the last three years — a
steady decline in the number of teens using drugs," said Gen. Barry R.
McCaffrey, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free America, formed in 1987, is a coalition of
communications industry professionals aimed at reducing the demand for
illegal drugs.