ANN ARBOR, Mich., Dec. 19 (UPI) -- A University of Michigan annual survey says the use of methamphetamine and steroids has dropped sharply among young people since 2001.
The university's 2005 Monitoring the Future survey says the use of meth among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders, combined has dropped by approximately one-third since 2001. Steroid use also dropped dramatically among the same population since 2001.
Overall teen drug use also continues to decline, the survey said. Trend analysis for youth current use of any illicit drug from 2001 to 2005 among eighth, 10th and 12th graders showed a drop of 19 percent. This translated to nearly 700,000 fewer youth using illicit drugs in 2005 than in 2001.
"Teens are getting the message. Drugs are harmful and will not only hurt their brains and bodies, but also damage their futures," said John P. Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy. "While we are encouraged by our progress against it, we need to follow through."
The survey said marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among teens but its usage rates also are declining.
