Teen drug use dropped slightly last year,the first decrease since 1992,
according to a government report to be released today.

The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse says 9 percent of American
teens used drugs in 1996, down from 10.9 percent in 1995, according to an
administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Drug use among adults, which has been stable for years,also did not change
in 1996, according to the survey, which is to be released by Health and
Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala and federal drug czar, Gen. Barry
McCaffrey.

Nationwide, 13 million adults used drugs last year,about half as many as in
1979, the peak year.

According to the official,the new report shows:

Marijuana use, which accounts for threefourths of teen drug use, dropped
from 8.2 percent of teens to 7.1 percent, but officials said the change was
statistically insignificant.

Alcohol use among teens dropped from 21.1 percent in 1995 to 18.8 percent
last year.

Tobacco use remained flat at 18 percent, although use of smokeless tobacco
dipped from 2.8 percent to 1.9 percent.