Many people use marijuana compulsively even though it interferes with family, school, work, and recreational activities. What makes this all the more disturbing is that marijuana use has been shown to be three times more likely to lead to dependence among adolescents than among adults. About 5.5% of 19-22 year-olds surveyed had used Ecstasy in the previous year. The rate of heroin lifetime heroin use is higher among those in prison (23.4 percent for State and 17.9 percent for Federal). It is encouraging to note that many teenagers recognize the risks of heroin. The NSDUH found that 87.8 percent of 12th graders agree that heroin substance abuse represents a "great risk." The fact that so many teenagers recognize the dangers of heroin use is encouraging, and could lead to further declines in teen drug use of heroin. |