U.S. TEENAGERS CUTTING BACK ON DRUG USE

WASHINGTON -- American teenagers are cutting back on their use of
illicit drugs and cigarettes, but alcohol consumption is holding
steady, the government says. An annual survey of eighth-, 10th- and
12th-graders done for the Department of Health and Human Services,
found declines in many kinds of drugs for high school students,
especially for Ecstasy and LSD.

Overall, the Bush administration said the annual survey funded by the
National Institute on Drug Abuse showed an 11 percent drop in illegal
drug use in the past two years, slightly surpassing President Bush's
goal of a 10 percent reduction during that period.

The survey, known as Monitoring the Future, tracked drug use and
attitudes among 48,500 students from 392 schools.

There was one troubling sign: slowing declines in the use of certain
drugs by eighth graders - and a slight increase in their use of
inhalants, said Lloyd D. Johnston, who directed the study by the
University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

"We should take this as a little warning because eighth graders have
been indicative of things to come in the past," Johnston said.

In addition, there was an overall increase in the illicit use of the
synthetic painkillers OxyContin and vicodin, reflective of patterns
seen in the general population.

The survey showed a different picture of drug use from another poll of
teens that also is used to measure the effectiveness of White House
drug control policy. A private study by Pride Surveys in September
showed illegal drug use and cigarette smoking among sixth-through
12th-graders increased slightly during the last school year compared
with the year before.

But both surveys agreed that marijuana remains by far the most widely
used illegal drug. Monitoring the Future reported that it had been
tried at least once by 46 percent of 12th graders and used by more
than a third in the past year. Both numbers showed a decrease over
last year.

"More kids are seeking treatment for marijuana dependency than all
other drugs combined," John Walters, director of the White House
Office of National Drug Control Policy, said at a news conference.
Walters added that in 15 cities, surveys have found that more teens
smoke marijuana than regular cigarettes.

However, he said the results were encouraging.

"This survey shows that when we push back against the drug problem, it
gets smaller," Walters said.

Johnston and administration officials offered differing explanations
for the decline in use of Ecstasy and LSD.

Ecstasy, also known as MDMA, is a synthetic drug considered part
hallucinogen and part amphetamine. The drug became popular at dance
parties because of the energy and euphoria it gave to users, but it
has harmful side effects. It can lead to brain, heart and kidney damage.

Johnston said teens now are more aware about the risks of
Ecstasy.

The reduced availability of LSD, following the breakup in 2000 of a
lab that produced large quantities of the drug, accounted for the drop
in its use, said Karen Tandy, administrator of the drug enforcement
administration. The use of LSD is at its lowest level since the
federal government began a survey of teen-age drug use 30 years ago.

LSD, known as acid, can cause hallucinations and delusions.

The percentage of teens who smoke cigarettes has fallen dramatically
from the mid-1990s, the result of advertising campaigns and the rise
in cigarette prices.

But the survey showed that, among 8th- and 10th-graders, the decline
slowed significantly.

William V. Corr, executive director of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids,
said the numbers reflect a "lack of federal leadership on tobacco
prevention" and decisions by cash-strapped states to cut their
prevention program.

Johnston, the study's director, said that despite progress in keeping
teens from smoking, "one-quarter of our kids, by the end of high
school, are smoking cigarettes."