Marijuana use up, meth use down, says study of illegal drugs
(CBS) How's the war on drugs going? A new government survey on illegal drugs says pot use is up but use of methamphetamine and cocaine is trending downward.
Pictures: Toking teens: 17 top states for marijuana use
The National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that pot use rose among Americans aged 12 and older from 5.8 percent in 2007 to 6.9 percent in 2010. That's 17.4 million American teens and adults.
The survey, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), also showed methamphetamine user rates have plummeted by nearly half, from 731,000 users in 2006 to 353,000 in 2010. Cocaine use also dropped from 2.4 million users in 2006 to 1.5 million in 2010.
Overall, however, illicit drug use is slightly up, from 8.7 percent of the population in 2009 to 8.9 percent in 2010.
"We stand at a crossroads in our nation's efforts to prevent substance abuse and addiction," SAMHSA Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, said in a written statement. "This nation cannot afford to risk losing more individuals, families and communities to illicit drugs or from other types of substance abuse."
If some drug rates are down, why are more Americans smoking pot?
"Emerging research reveals potential links between state laws permitting access to smoked medical marijuana and higher rates of marijuana use," Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy, said in a written statement. " I urge every family - but particularly those in states targeted by pro-drug political campaigns - to redouble their efforts to shield young people from serious harm by educating them about the real health and safety consequences caused by illegal drug use."
The complete survey results can be found here.
