Survey Shows Florida Overall Drug Use Down Among Youth
~ Inhalants, over-the-counter drugs and prescription drugs are widely abused ~
There have been significant reductions in cigarette smoking and binge drinking among Florida ’s middle school and high school students since 2000, as reported by the 2008 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey . In contrast to the significant reductions being made each year, the 2008 survey confirms the continuing trend of prescription drug abuse and highlights the need for future prevention efforts. The Florida Office of Drug Control, state agencies, law enforcement, substance abuse prevention coalitions, schools and community stakeholders have partnered to reduce substance abuse across the state.
“Children are Florida ’s most vulnerable residents, and protecting them from the dangers of substance abuse is tremendously important,” said Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp. “Drug abuse threatens the health and safety of our children and their families. The survey is vital to understanding how to prevent drug use.”
According to the survey, which has been administered every year since 2000, drug use among Florida ’s middle and high school students is down in 10 of 11 areas consistently measured over the history of the survey. From 2007 to 2008, among middle and high school students, past 30-day use of alcohol and binge drinking declined significantly. Long-term trends documented from 2000 to 2008 include:
Cigarette smoking is cut in half: The past 30-day use of cigarettes
among middle and high schoolers is at 9 percent, down from 18 percent
in 2000.
Binge drinking declines by 4 percentage points since 2000: Binge
drinking, defined as having five or more drinks in a row sometime
during the previous two weeks, currently stands at 15 percent, down
from 19 percent in 2000.
Early initiation continues to decline: Research confirms that if our
youth make it to adulthood without experimenting with drugs, they are
far less likely to start using later in life. The 2008 survey
documents an important decline in the percentage of high school
students who first used alcohol (by 8.6 percentage points), tobacco (by
19.5 percentage points), and marijuana (by 6.7 percentage points)
before the age of 14.
New question on over-the-counter drugs: For the first time, middle
schoolers were asked about their use of over-the-counter drugs – such
as cold and cough medications – in order to get high. The lifetime
prevalence rate of over-the-counter drug abuse (4.9 percent) is higher
than the rate for any illegal drug except marijuana.
Prescription drugs emerging as a dangerous source of abuse: 4.5 percent
of high school seniors report abusing prescription pain relievers in
the past 30 days, and 3.8 percent report abusing prescription
depressants – more than any other illegal drug (excluding marijuana).
Results from the 2002 survey (the first time this question was asked)
were nearly identical, indicating a continuing trend in prescription
drug abuse.
"The 2008 report suggests major progress in reducing underage drinking,” said Office of Drug Control Director Bill Janes. “Prevalence rates for the vast majority of drugs monitored by the FYSAS have been significantly reduced over the past eight years. This is a testament to the tremendous progress the state has made toward enhancing the prevention infrastructure in the areas of assessment, strategic planning, and implementation of evidence-based programs and policies. Our communities are making a real difference.”
“While drug use is down overall, parents need to be acutely alert to the dangers posed by legally accessible substance like inhalants, alcohol, prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications. Parents need to do their part to keep young people safe by restricting the availability of these substances within their homes and by closely monitoring their children’s activities,” Janes said.
Florida ’s Drug Control Strategy acknowledges that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to ensuring that children, families, and communities are healthy and safe. Florida ’s diverse communities must prioritize their needs and select the most effective strategies that will be used to tackle their unique profile of substance abuse problems. The continued support of community anti-drug coalitions is vital to prevention efforts throughout the state. In addition, the dramatic progress the state has made in reducing youth alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use is a result of the ongoing expansion of our community-based efforts and the support of state agencies.
Florida ’s youth survey measures youth substance use annually across the state, and in alternate years, in each county. The 2008 edition included 91,471 valid returns from sixth through 12th graders in 66 of Florida ’s 67 counties. ( Sarasota County is not included among the counties surveyed because it chose to administer an internal survey that is not comparable to the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey.) The full report is available online at www.dcf.state.fl.us/mentalhealth/publications/fysas/ .
This information originally published on November 21, 2008.
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