Pubdate: Mon, 27 Nov 2000
Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution (GA)
Copyright: 2000 Cox Interactive Media.
Contact: Journal:   Constitution:  http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/
Forum: http://www.accessatlanta.com/community/forums/
Author: Larry McShane, Associated Press

SURVEY: TEENS' MARIJUANA USE DOWN

New York --- Teenage marijuana use has dropped for a third straight year, 
but a jump in the use of the "club drug" ecstasy raised new concerns for 
parents, according to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America's annual report.

The nonprofit group's 13th survey, being released today, questioned 7,290 
students in seventh through 12th grades nationwide. The margin of error is 
plus or minus 1.5 percentage points.

Use of ecstasy, a favorite at dance clubs and all-night raves, has doubled 
among teens since 1995, the survey found. One in 10 teens has experimented 
with the drug.

The report found the number of teens who have tried ecstasy at least once 
had increased from 7 percent to 10 percent during the past year. In 
contrast, 40 percent of teens said they had tried marijuana, down from 41 
percent last year.

It was the third consecutive drop-off in teen marijuana use since 1997, 
when 44 percent said they had used the drug at least once.

"We appear to be turning a very important corner," said Richard Bonnette, 
the group's president and chief executive officer. "But as we turn one 
corner, troubling developments are coming at us from other directions --- 
specifically with ecstasy."

The survey found that more teens were turned off than on by marijuana. 
Fifty-four percent felt smoking pot would make them behave foolishly, up 
from 51 percent in 1997. Fewer believe most people will try marijuana: 36 
percent now, compared with 41 percent in 1997. And just 21 percent said 
they had used marijuana in the past month, down from 24 percent in 1997.

The partnership, along with the White House's Office of National Drug 
Control Policy, started a national anti-drug ad campaign in July 1998.

"This study confirms the trends we've seen over the last three years --- a 
steady decline in the number of teens using drugs," said Barry McCaffrey, 
director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
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