DRUG USE UP FOR BOOMERS, DOWN FOR YOUNG TEENS

Overall drug use increased in the United States just a smidgen in
2005, but another drop among young teens had federal drug policy
officials beaming on Tuesday.

Illicit drug use among young teens went down for the third
consecutive year - from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.9 percent in 2005.

" This is a culture change and welcome news for our nation's
well-being," said John Walters, director of the Office of National
Drug Control Policy.

The government reported Thursday that 4.4 percent of baby boomers
ages 50 to 59 indicated that they had used illicit drugs in the past
month. It marks the third consecutive yearly increase recorded for
that age group by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

"Rarely have we seen a story like this where this is such an obvious
contrast as one generation goes off stage right, and entering stage
left is a generation that learned a lesson somehow and they're doing
something very different," said David Murray, special assistant to
the director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The annual survey on drug use and health involves interviews of about
67,500 people. It provides an important snapshot of how many
Americans drink, smoke and use drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and
methamphetamine.

Overall, drug use remained relatively unchanged among Americans age
12 and older in 2005. About 19.7 million Americans reported they had
used an illicit drug in the past month, which represented a rise from
7.9 percent to 8.1 percent. The increase was not only due to the
boomers; an increase was also seen among those 18-25, the age
category that always ranks highest when it comes to illicit drug use.

Among the 18-25 group, drug u se rose from 19.4 percent to 20.1
percent. Federal officials said that increase was not statistically
significant.

But groups seeking the legalization of marijuana said the results
show that the United States is spending billions and incarcerating
millions, yet drugs remain cheap, potent and widely available.

Drug use by baby boomers increased from 2.7 percent in 2002 to 4.4
percent last year. Marijuana was by far their drug of choice, Murray said.

That's true overall. There were 14.6 million people who reported
using marijuana in the past month, about 2.4 million cocaine users
and 6.4 million people who used prescription drugs for nonmedical
purposes, such as pain relievers, tranquilizers or sedatives.