News Release - Marijuana use is rising; ecstasy use is beginning to rise; and alcohol use is declining among U.S. teens

Several important findings come out of this year’s Monitoring the Future study, the 36th annual, national survey of American teens in a series that launched in 1975.
 
 Marijuana use, which had been rising among teens for the past two years, continues to rise again this year—a sharp contrast to the considerable decline of the preceding decade.


 Ecstasy use—which fell out of favor in the early 2000s as concerns about its dangers
grew—appears to be making a comeback this year, following a considerable recent decline in the belief that its use is dangerous.
 
 Alcohol use—and, specifically, occasions of heavy drinking—continues its long-term
decline among teens into 2010, reaching historically low levels.


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