Use of ecstasy continues to rise, however, but the rate of increase is less than it has been in recent years, officials said.

According to the survey, the rise in ecstasy use among students in grades 8, 10 and 12 over the past three years has slowed from 2000 to 2001. In addition, rates of heroin use decreased among 10th and 12th graders and a gradual decline in misuse of inhalants continued in 2001, with a significant decrease seen among 12th graders.

The survey further indicated that rates of lifetime, past-year, and past-month marijuana use remained unchanged in all three grade levels surveyed. However, decreases were found in lifetime use of cocaine in any form and past-year use of cocaine powder.

"Overall, drug use among America's teenagers has remained level or declined for the fifth year in a row, and that's good news," said HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. "But we must remain vigilant to the threats that heroin, ecstasy, marijuana, alcohol, and other dangerous drugs pose to our youth."

In terms of alcohol use, the survey showed a decline in 8th-graders who reported being drunk in the past year. However, there was an increase in daily alcohol use among 12th graders.

The Monitoring the Future Survey, conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research and funded by NIDA at the National Institutes of Health, has tracked 12th-graders' illicit drug use and attitudes towards drugs since 1975. In 1991, 8th- and 10th-graders were added to the study.

The 2001 study surveyed a representative sample of more than 44,000 students in 424 schools throughout the United States about lifetime use, past year use, past month use, and daily use of drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.

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