A new report by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University Bloomington presents promising findings on adolescent use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Most of Indiana's adolescents continue to make the healthy decision to avoid drug use, but some of the findings signal a need for increasing prevention efforts statewide.
Here are some of the findings from the 14th annual survey of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use by Indiana children and adolescents:
- Cigarette use in all grades showed a steady decline
- Fewer adolescents chose to use marijuana
- Ninth- through 12th-graders did less binge drinking
- Smokeless tobacco use increased in all grades except 12th
- Older adolescents reported more use of club drugs than younger cohorts
- Inhalant use among sixth- through 11th-graders increased
The 2004 results, which can be found at http://www.drugs.indiana.edu/survey/atod/index.html, are based on surveys completed by 91,577 students in grades six through 12, attending 297 schools in Indiana. The purpose of the survey is to help state and local entities coordinate prevention programs by providing them with current information regarding adolescent use of these unhealthy and in some cases illegal substances. The annual survey is funded by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, Division of Mental Health and Addiction.
For the most part, illicit drug use by Hoosier adolescents is continuing a slow decline that began five to six years ago. E. Lisako Jones-McKyer, survey director for IPRC and assistant professor in IUB's Department of Applied Health Science, which is part of the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, said that state and local entities have made improving adolescent health their top priority and that these trends mirror their efforts. The "Afternoons R.O.CK. in Indiana" program is an example of this collaboration.
Coupled with these positive trends is the need to increase prevention efforts among lower grades for all categories, Jones-McKyer said. She noted that inhalant use increased in all grades except 12th. Among younger adolescents, she said, the rates have risen to levels reported in the late 1990s.
"It is my belief that youth's knowledge of products that can be used as inhalants has expanded exponentially in recent years," Jones-McKyer said. "Results in this year's survey suggest a need to address prevention efforts in this realm."
She said another significant finding is the decreased use of cigarettes but increased use of smokeless tobacco.
"This finding suggests the need to broaden prevention efforts beyond cigarettes to include all tobacco products," she said.
Mohammad R. Torabi, Chancellor's Professor and chairperson in the Department of Applied Health Science as well as IPRC's interim director, said the successes identified in this year's report should be celebrated but more work lies ahead.
"While Indiana has made great progress in the past 10 years, we still have a long way to go," Torabi said. "Knowing that children and adolescents are the most important asset of our state, it is imperative that we continue to monitor drug use among this group and continue comprehensive drug education, along with enforcement of policies for ultimately eliminating these problems."
The following is a summary of the survey results broken down by substance. From the early to mid-1990s, Indiana saw a dramatic increase in drug use among its youth. This usage peaked in 1996, followed by a slow and steady decline among youth in most age groups.
Tobacco use a mixed bag
Cigarette smoking rates continued to decline, albeit slightly, but the survey found an increase in the use of smokeless tobacco. The use of smokeless tobacco increased in every grade except 12th. The monthly usage reported ranged from 1.3 percent of sixth-graders to 8.7 percent of high school seniors.
The continued decline in cigarette smoking pleases public health experts because cigarettes are considered a "gateway drug," which can lead to the use of other drugs. Smoking rates are the best statistical predictor of other types of drug use by children and adolescents. The percentage of students who reported smoking at least one cigarette in the last month ranged from 5.4 percent of sixth-graders to 27.4 percent of seniors. The percentage of seniors smoking at least once a month decreased 1.4 percent from the previous year.
Drug use down