STUDENT DRUG USE ROSE DURING 1990S

Cocaine, marijuana and cigarette use among high school students increased
during the 1990s, according to a government survey that also says fewer
teenagers are having sex and those who do are more likely to use condoms.

The study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued
yesterday, also found that more students wear seat belts and fewer are
carrying weapons or contemplating suicide.

The CDC has distributed questionnaires biennially since 1991 in a
scientific sampling of students to measure health-related behavior. This
year's survey involved 15,349 students in grades nine through 12.

In 1991, 14.7 percent said they used marijuana. That figure rose to 26.7
percent in 1999. Students reporting they have tried marijuana increased
from 31.3 percent in 1991 to 47.2 percent in 1999.

In 1991, 1.7 percent of the students said they used cocaine at least once
in the prior month. By 1999 that figure had risen to 4 percent.

While alcohol use has remained steady since 1991, the survey indicates more
teenagers are smoking. In 1991, 27.5 percent reported smoking in the
previous month. That increased to 36.4 percent in 1997, then dropped to
34.8 percent in 1999. However, frequent cigarette use climbed from 12.7
percent in 1991 to 16.8 percent in 1999.

Fewer high school students said they have had sex, 49.9 percent in 1999
compared with 54.1 percent in 1991. The number of sexually active students
remained consistent at about 36 percent, but more reported using condoms.