Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt announced a 9 percent decline in illicit drug use among American youth between the ages of 12 and 17 from 2002 to 2004. Marijuana use also declined by 7 percent among young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 during this same period. Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug, with a rate of 6.1 percent (14.6 million current users) for the U.S. population 12 and older. The findings are from the 2004 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) released today at the annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month press conference.

The survey findings, released by HHS' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), show that overall 19.1 million Americans, or 7.9 percent of the population ages 12 and older were current illicit drug users meaning they used an illicit drug in the past month. This rate was similar to the rates seen in 2002 and 2003, around 8 percent of the population ages 12 and older.

Particularly striking was a decline in current use, defined as used in the past month, of marijuana among boys ages 12-17, from 9.1 percent in 2002 down to 8.1 percent in 2004. But marijuana use by girls in that age group did not decline and remained at about 7 percent. Similarly, for the 18-25 year old category, the cohort with the highest illicit drug use rates, there were declines in current marijuana use from 17.3 percent in 2002 to 16.1 percent in 2004; and use of hallucinogens from 1.9 percent in 2002 to 1.5 percent in 2004.

"Prevention and treatment are key in the federal strategy. We in the federal government will work with our state and local partners, and we will redouble our efforts to deal with drug use in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina,'' Secretary Leavitt said. "Clearly the data show by working together as a nation, we can achieve success in preventing drug abuse."

"This is very encouraging news," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "Our balanced drug control strategy is paying off - especially in the most important category: young people. We need to follow through in certain areas: rising prescription drug abuse and continued flat rates of adult methamphetamine use that we need to push down. But, today's survey confirms the welcome trend on teen drug use. We know that reductions in youth drug use now pay large dividends in reducing the future human and economic costs of drug use to our nation."

An area of concern is the increasing non-medical use of prescription medications among young adults. The 2004 survey shows about 6 percent of young adults used medications non medically in the past month, and 29 percent had used in their lifetime. From 2002 to 2004 there was an increase in lifetime prevalence of non-medical use of narcotic pain relievers in the 18-25 age group, from 22 percent to 24 percent. Hydrocodone and oxycodone products showed increases in lifetime use among young adults ages 18 to 25.

"The news today is an indication that our partnerships and the work of prevention professionals, schools, parents, teachers, law enforcement, religious leaders, and local community anti-drug coalitions are paying off," SAMHSA Administrator Charles Curie said. "Yet our work is far from over. We must continue our efforts to support people in their struggle with substance abuse and mental illness to help ensure they have the opportunity for recovery."

Read the complete SAMHSA announcement or the detailed NSDUH survey findings online.