Youth Substance Abuse Declines from 2002 to 2007

Cocaine and methamphetamine use among young adults has dropped significantly over the past year, while abuse of prescription drugs has risen, according to the nation’s largest substance use assessment, the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The report also showed a spike in drug use among 55-59 year-olds, as baby boomers entered that age range.

Cocaine use among 18-25 year-olds dropped 23 percent (to 1.7 percent), while methamphetamine use among young adults fell by a third (to 0.4 percent) between 2006 and 2007, said the report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The survey was released today at the start of the 19th annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month.

Historically, young adults have had the highest rates of substance abuse.

Among youth ages 12-17, there was a significant decline in overall past month illicit drug use, from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.5 percent in 2007. Reductions in youth drug use occurred for nearly every type of illicit drug, including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, LSD, Ecstasy, prescription-type drugs used nonmedically, pain relievers, stimulants and methamphetamine.

Current marijuana use among this age group declined from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.7 percent in 2007. Most of the decline occurred between 2002 and 2005.

The level of alcohol use also dropped among those aged 12 to 17, from 17.6 percent in 2002 to 15.9 percent in 2007.  Similarly, the rate of cigarette use among this age group diminished from 13.0 percent in 2002 to 9.8 percent in 2007.

“These results confirm that progress has been made – particularly regarding substance abuse among younger Americans,” said HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. “The report also reminds us of the importance of our efforts to provide substance abuse treatment to those in need and to encourage health care professionals to identify people who are at risk for developing substance abuse problems and intervene early.”

The reductions in methamphetamine and cocaine use among young adults coincide with reductions in their use among Americans in the workforce and significant market disruptions for both drugs.  In 2007, there was a 21 percent increase in the average price per gram for cocaine and a 10 percent decrease in purity. 

Workplace drug test positives for cocaine dropped 19 percent in 2007 to the lowest levels in the history of this testing system.  For methamphetamine, there has been a 50 percent reduction in the level of workplace drug test positives since 2005, along with an 84 percent increase in average price per pure gram and 26 percent decrease in methamphetamine purity in 2007.

Despite many positive trends, the most recent NSDUH also reveals some less encouraging data.  Among young adults ages 18 to 25, the level of current nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers has risen 12 percent (to 4.6 percent in 2007).  In addition, the level of current illicit drug use among those aged 55 to 59 more than doubled, to 4.1 percent in 2007, confirming concerns that baby boomers have continued their higher levels of substance abuse as they age.

“Our efforts against methamphetamine, cocaine, and other illegal drugs are working,” said John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy.  “The markets for these poisons are shrinking, and the deadly grip they hold on the lives of individuals, families, and communities is being countered.  But when it comes to prescription drugs, we can not afford to re-live the painful experiences we’ve had with illegal drugs.  We must act quickly to increase awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse, decrease the illegal diversion of these products, and shore up safer practices for their prescription and distribution.”   

The 2007 NSDUH report also provides extensive data on mental health issues.  The report says 24.3 million Americans aged 18 or older experienced serious psychological distress over the past year, and 16.5 million Americans had suffered at least one major depressive episode during this period.

The mental health and substance abuse components of the report also highlight the association between these public health problems.  For example, in 2007 adults 18 and older who had experienced a major depressive episode in the past year were more than twice as likely as other adults to have used illicit drugs during that time (27.4 percent vs.12.8 percent).

“The survey shows the tremendous progress communities, families and individuals across America have made in reducing substance abuse among young people”, said  SAMHSA Acting Administrator  Eric Broderick, D.D.S, M.P.H, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service. “It also provides critical information that will help guide the future direction of our substance abuse prevention and treatment efforts.’’  

NSDUH is a scientifically conducted annual survey of approximately 67,500 people throughout the country.  Because of its statistical power, it is a primary source of information on the levels of illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use as well as certain mental health conditions.

Finds some significant differences in perceptions among various population groups.

Nearly half of American adults report knowing someone in recovery from the use or abuse of alcohol or drugs, according to survey results announced today by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

A large majority of Americans believe that people in recovery from substance addictions can live productive lives and contribute to their community, the report also said.

SAMHSA’s announcement came during National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, an annual observance of efforts aimed at helping people with substance abuse problems restore their lives.

SAMHSA sponsored the nationwide survey to gain insight into public attitudes toward substance abuse, and the effectiveness of prevention, treatment and recovery programs.  The survey showed that most Americans are supportive of people in recovery, and that the public overwhelmingly believes that prevention and treatment efforts can work.

“These results are encouraging and offer hope to everyone affected by substance abuse problems,” said SAMHSA Acting Administrator Eric Broderick. “The survey shows that the American people believe that prevention and treatment efforts make a real difference in addressing this public health challenge and improving lives.”

Among the survey’s more notable findings:

• Less than one-fifth of Americans (18 percent) would think less of a friend or relative who is in recovery from addiction.
• Nearly two-thirds of the public (66 percent) believe that addiction to illicit drugs can be prevented.
• Most Americans report that they would feel comfortable being friends (66 percent) or working (63 percent) with someone in recovery for a substance abuse problem.

Although the report found widespread agreement on many issues, it also found some significant differences in how various segments of the public view certain substance abuse-related issues. 

For example, younger Americans aged 25 to 34 are more likely than those age 65 and older to believe that people in recovery from illicit drugs can go on to live productive lives (70 percent compared to 51 percent).

Differences were also found between the sexes on some issues.  Females were more likely than males to believe that people with illicit drug addictions posed a danger to society (80 percent compared to 73 percent).  Women were also more inclined than men to believe that people in recovery from illicit drug addictions can live productive lives (65 percent compared to 56 percent).

In addition, the survey revealed differences in the way the general public views various types of substance use and abuse.  For example, more Americans felt comfortable living next door to someone in recovery for alcohol abuse than for drug abuse (57 percent compared to 46 percent).

Finding May Lead to New Treatments to Decrease Risk of Relapse

Scientists have identified a mechanism in the brain that helps to explain why craving for cocaine, and the risk of relapse, seems to increase in the weeks and months after drug use is stopped. The research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health.

The study1 published in the May 25 issue of the journal Nature, "reveals a novel mechanism for why cocaine craving intensifies after cessation of drug use and suggests a new target for the development of medications to decrease the risk of relapse in abstinent cocaine abusers," says NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow.

Exposure to environmental cues (e.g., people, places, things) previously associated with drug use can trigger drug craving, often leading to relapse. Previous NIDA-funded research using a rat model of drug craving and relapse (published in Nature in 20012Ä) has shown that the responsiveness of rats to cocaine cues progressively increases, rather than decreases, over the first 60 days after cessation of intravenous cocaine self-administration.

In the current study, also in rats, researchers demonstrate that after prolonged periods of forced abstinence from cocaine self-administration, there is an increase in the number of proteins called AMPA glutamate receptors in a brain region known as the nucleus accumbens (a brain area involved in motivation and reward). "The additional AMPA receptors increase the reactivity of the nucleus accumbens to cocaine-related environmental cues, explaining the intensified cue-induced cocaine seeking that occurs after prolonged abstinence from the drug," explains lead investigator Marina E. Wolf, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Neuroscience at the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago. "This happens not only because there are more AMPA receptors, but also because the new AMPA receptors are atypical - they are missing a particular subunit, and therefore enable stronger stimulation of the nucleus accumbens than typical AMPA receptors," adds Wolf.

When the investigators blocked these atypical receptors (termed GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors) after prolonged abstinence from cocaine, they were able to substantially decrease intensified cue-induced craving in the rat model. "The finding suggests," says Wolf, "that medications could be developed to block the atypical GluR2-lacking AMPA receptors in the nucleus accumbens, thus reducing drug craving and the risk for relapse, without interfering with neurotransmission at typical AMPA receptors, which are important for normal brain functions such as learning and memory."

The research was performed in the laboratories of Wolf, Michela Marinelli, Ph.D., and Kuei Y. Tseng, M.D., Ph.D., at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science and Yavin Shaham, Ph.D., of the NIDA Intramural Research Program in Baltimore, Maryland.