HIGH SCHOOL DRUG USE RISES; OTHER RISKY BEHAVIOR DECLINES

ATLANTA (AP) -- Cocaine, marijuana and cigarette use among high school
students consistently increased during the 1990s, according to a government
survey that also says fewer teens are having sex.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, issued Thursday,
showed improvement in some risky behavior -- more students wear seat belts
and fewer are carrying weapons or contemplating suicide.

In 1991, 14.7 percent of the students surveyed said they use marijuana.
That number increased to 26.7 percent in 1999. Students reporting they have
tried marijuana at least once increased from 31.3 percent in 1991 to 47.2
percent in 1999.

In 1991, 1.7 percent of the students surveyed said they used cocaine at
least once in the prior month. By 1999 that number rose to 4 percent.
Those who had tried cocaine increased from 5.9 percent in 1991 to 9.5
percent in 1999.

In 1991, 27.5 percent of the students surveyed reported they had smoked at
least once in the previous month. That increased to a high of 36.4 percent
in 1997 then dropped to 34.8 percent in 1999. However, frequent cigarette
use gradually climbed from 12.7 percent in 1991 to 16.8 percent in 1999.