Illicit Drugs

Illicit drugs pose serious dangers for teens. Illicit drug use is against the law. More than four in ten adolescents have been offered drugs at some point and about one in four have been offered drugs at school. 93 The most commonly used illicit drug for 12-17 year olds is marijuana. ⁹⁴ In 2006, almost one-third (32%) of 12th graders reported smoking marijuana, while one-quarter (25%) of 10th graders and one-eighth (12%) of 8th graders did. ⁹⁵ But there are also other illicit drugs out there that teens are exposed to. Amphetamines, inhalants, and prescription dugs, are just some examples. Though still too high, research tells us that the trends for some of these drugs are promising. For example, the use of illicit drugs in the past month for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders went down 23% from 2001 to 2006. ⁹⁶

Inhalant use is increasing among teens. In 2005, one in ten 12th graders (11%), slightly more than one in ten 10th graders (13%), and almost two in ten 8th graders (16%) reported ever using inhalants.

Prescription drugs can also be very dangerous. In fact, people are more likely to abuse prescription drugs than any other drug except marijuana. And that includes teens. A 2006 survey, for example, reveals that about one in ten 12th graders have abused Vicodin. Vicodin is a powerful painkiller that can lead to dependence and addiction. 97 Some teens are even doing what is called "pharming." That's a slang term for swallowing a handful of prescription drugs.

Talk to your pre-teen or teen. Let them know your values and your expectations about illicit drug use. You CAN make a difference.

Inhalant Use

There are more than a thousand household and commercial products that can be abused by breathing them through the mouth or nose. These products include solvents and substances found in lighter fluids, cleaning products, paint products, and commercial adhesives. Because they are easy and cheap to get, and can be hidden easily, inhalants are often one of the first drugs abused by youth.Rubber cement can be used as an inhalant. So can typewriter correction fluid. Abusers can either breathe them in directly from the bottle or aerosol can. Or the product can be poured on a cloth or put in a plastic bag.

Inhalant use can be deadly, even if used just one time.

Last revised: April 21, 2008