U.S. drug abuse survey: Prescription abuse falls for some, marijuana still most common

Jars full of medical marijuana are seen at Sunset Junction medical marijuana dispensary on May 11, 2010, in Los Angeles, Calif.

/ Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

(CBS News) A new survey on the state of drug use among U.S. teens and adults suggests drugs are still a big problem for many Americans.

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"Behind each of these statistics are individuals, families and communities suffering from the consequences of abuse and addiction," SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, said in a press release. "We must continue to promote robust prevention, treatment and recovery programs throughout our country."

For the annual survey, researchers from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) polled 70,000 people ages 12 and older, asking them about drugs they may or may not have taken within the month. The survey, which looked at data from 2011, provides a nationally representative look at current substance abuse around the country, according to its authors.

The survey found a 14 percent decline in prescription drug use for non-medical purposes among people aged 18 to 25, which reflects 300,000 fewer young adults abusing such drugs compared with last year's survey. Prescription abuse rates among children 12 to 17 and adults over 26 remained unchanged.

About 8.7 percent of Americans 12 and older were identified as current drug users - similar to last year's 8.9 percent rate - for a total of 22.5 million American drug users.

Like previous years, marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug - and use appears to be on the rise.

According to the new survey, 7 percent of Americans were current marijuana users, up from 6.9 percent in 2010 and 5.8 percent in 2007.

Heroin use also looks to be falling, with the number of people aged 12 and older who used heroin in the past year growing from 373,000 in 2007 to 621,000 in 2010 but then falling to 620,000 in 2011.

Other drugs continued declines in use from earlier surveys. Hallucinogen use fell 19 percent for this year's survey, and cocaine and methamphetamine use has been on the decline sine 2006, with 44 percent and 40 percent reductions respectively.

Tobacco use among teens 12 to 17 has also been declining since 2002 - more than 15 percent decline over the past decade.

"Drug use in this country creates too many obstacles to opportunity - especially for young people," Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy, said in the press release. "The good news is that we are not powerless against this problem. By emphasizing prevention and treatment, as well as smart law enforcement efforts that break the cycle of drug use, crime and incarceration, we know we can reduce drug use and its consequences in America."

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health can be found here.

[ji3232]

There is always a danger in the illicit use of any types of drugs. The fact of the matter is when people tend to just want to try and use these drugs but get so addicted to the drug that their means of living is surrounded by drugs. As a former drug user i know this because i saw the way that i was surrounding myself with drugs and drug users only. Growing up i was a great kid doing good at school and was very proactive with curriculum activities at school. During the time that i was around 17 years old i decided to get involved with drugs. I guess it had alot to do with fitting in trying to be cool. I did not know what kind of roller coaster that i was waiting in line to ride. I thought well its not so bad and it will make me feel better. i started using pot. well to make this story short i got caught with pot at school got kicked out. Then my drug use took over me. My life was going strait down hill. Many people dont know the consequences that is involved with drugs. Like having a record with possession of drugs can effect where you can work in the future or going to prison or the worse case overdosing and you die. I decided to change my life around. So i went to this rehabilitation program called Narconon. I was a little skeptical at first but i decided i need help before i die of overdoes or going to prison for a very long time. but it turns out that it the program Narconon saved my life. One thing that i loved about this program was that it was very different than other programs out there. They have something called the New life Detoxification Program which involve the sauna (sweating out the toxins) and vitamin therapy. I must say what takes many years to get rid of the drug toxins in your body they did it in 30 days! then i went to learn more about life skills. it took me 4 months to complete this program and now 4 years later i am still free from drugs and have a great career! If anyone is look for help you should check this out www.narcononworks.com

[Misle_Farhat]

wait wait - how do you guys know each other?

[mecury69]

The brain runs on electricity and chemicals. An overwhelming number of people have a imbalance that causes symptoms that are unbearable to some. While a person can be trained to deal with those imbalances many cannot and that is where chemistry comes into place. THC helps many people deal with the imbalances. THAT is why mankind has sought drugs and other vices to counter those imbalances. Even sex and eating do the same thing by triggering the body to release chemicals in the brain to bring harmony and balance. Too much however, creates an imbalance and problems. While some people do not have an imbalance, MANY people can use Pot without ANY negative affects on friends and family. Society, however, is slow to grasp and understand things that threaten it's perception.

[lnytnz]

Portugal has shown the way in dealing with drugs. legalize and take the mystery out of drugs and watch use decline.treat abusers as a health rather than criminal problem. let's face it legal or illegal some people will always use drugs

[mecury69]

It's a solution as opposed to a problem and that has been known for a long time. CBS, you just don't get it.

[Misle_Farhat]

Yep, this is 100% CBS's misperception.

[TJphoto]

Ask any drug counselor what's worse, Marijuana or Alcohol? The answer.....Alcohol. Difference being, the federal government makes over 50 Billion Dollars a year off the liquor industry in taxes alone. We spend 250 Billion Dollars a year stopping 10% of the drugs. "I'm tough on crime....Vote for me".

[malcolm-kyle]

An appeal to all Prohibitionists:

Most of us know that individuals who use illegal drugs are going to get high—no matter what, so why do you not prefer they acquire them in stores that check IDs and pay taxes? Gifting the market in narcotics to ruthless criminals, foreign terrorists, and corrupt law enforcement officials is seriously compromising our future.

Why do you wish to continue with a policy that has proven itself to be a poison in the veins of our once so "proud & free" nation? Even if you cannot bear the thought of people using drugs, there is absolutely nothing you, or any government, can do to stop them. We have spent 40 years and trillions of dollars on this dangerous farce; Prohibition will not suddenly and miraculously start showing different results. Do you actually believe you may personally have something to lose If we were to begin basing our drug policy on science & logic instead of ignorance, hate and lies?

Maybe you're a police officer, a prison guard, or a local/national politician. Possibly you're scared of losing employment, overtime pay, the many kickbacks, and those regular fat bribes. But what good will any of that do you once our society has followed Mexico over the dystopian abyss of dismembered bodies, vats of acid, and marauding thugs carrying gold-plated AK-47s with leopard-skinned gunstocks?

Kindly allow us to forgo the next level of your sycophantic prohibition-engendered mayhem.

Prohibition prevents regulation: legalize, regulate, and tax!

[bigmanfrommaine]

Alcohol is still a problem too. Lets make that illegal...worked well the last time we tried that.

[bobnjersey]

[A new survey ... suggests drugs are still a big problem for many Americans.]
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the bigger problem is likely to be why exactly people feel the need to self medicate w/ these 'drugs' ... and their inability to resolve that root cause.

what's the survey say about that?

[honestabe8]

bob....how would you prefer they self medicate?

[bobnjersey]

[It must be so nice to be you bobnjersey. MJ is a WEED...why should we who choose to imbibe be stopped from our pursuit of happiness? Why should you have the right to control us? ]
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wow ... sounds you have some 'control' issues there.

nowhere did i say anything about controlling anyone ... limiting anyone ... or prohibiting anything.

maybe you need some medication yourself ... legal or otherwise.

[JohnLadd2751]

It makes no sense pot is still illegal in the 21st century! I mean really?! ******* hypocrites in power!