Survey shows decline in teen drug use

BLOOMINGTON -- Hoosier teens say they are smoking and drinking less and using fewer illegal drugs, but some are turning to a new illicit drug, according to a statewide survey by Indiana University researchers.\nNearly one-tenth of high school seniors reported they had used Ecstasy at least once, the Indiana Prevention Resource Center said Wednesday in its annual report.\nIt was the first time the study had asked about use of the drug, which is popular at dance clubs and raves.\nDaily tobacco use by juveniles remained above the national average but continued to decrease, falling to levels about one-third lower in high-school students and one-half lower in middle schoolers than in the 1990s, the survey said.\nCenter spokesman Mark Pogue credited increased enforcement of laws banning tobacco sales to minors for the drop. \nThe number of students who said they drank occasionally declined, but the number who said they drank heavily remained steady, the survey said. Use of marijuana and other illegal drugs continued a steady decline that began about five years ago.\nCenter officials said after-school programs were part of the reason for the decrease. Pogue said there are 500 such programs in the state serving about 15,000 students between ages 10 and 14 -- the ages when children are most likely to start experimenting with tobacco, drugs and alcohol -- during the hours before their parents come home from work.\n"I really think that's made a huge difference in Indiana in drug-use rates," Pogue said.\nThe study found that 9.5 percent of high school seniors reported they had used Ecstasy at least once. Less than 1 percent of middle-school students reported using the drugs Rohypnol and GHB at least once, while 1.5 percent of high school students did so.