Untitled NEW YORK, Sept. 6th - We are encouraged by the results of the 2006 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), released today in Washington, D.C., showing promising strides in the right direction in teen use of illicit drugs and overall teen drug use now at a five-year low.These findings of good news from the NSDUH study echo some of the findings from our own Partnership Attitude Tracking Study and additional research the Partnership has conducted on teens and the abuse of prescription (Rx) and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Various recent Partnership studies corroborate the steady declines in marijuana use among teens, but these findings continue to be overshadowed by the significant and alramingly high percentage of teens abusing Rx and OTC medicines intentionally to get high.The latest data from NSDUH data show that since 2002, current illicit drug use among 12- to 17-year-olds is down 16 percent, from 11.6 percent to 9.8 percent in 2006. In that same time period, current marijuana use also decreased 18 percent with a marked 25 five percent decrease in marijuana use by teenage boys.

Abuse of prescription drugs however, still continues to be an area of concern with more youth initiating drug use with nonmedical use of painkillers than with marijuana. According to the study, 5.2 million persons aged 12 or older, used painkillers nonmedically in the past month, marking a 10 percent increase from 2005 (4.7 million).

Parental Involvement is Key Factor in Recent Declines
In 2006, current use of illicit drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol (including binge drinking) was lower among youths aged 12 to 17 who reported that their parents always or sometimes engaged in monitoring behaviors than among youths whose parents seldom or never engaged in such behaviors. And most youths (90.4%) reported that their parents would strongly disapprove of their trying marijuana once or twice. Current marijuana use was also much less prevalent among youth who perceived strong parental disapproval for trying marijuana once or twice than for those who did not.

"While the progress marked by NSDUH should give us reason for hope, it is clear that the current drug culture is vastly different from when parents were teens themselves, and we are deeply concerned about the steady high rates of abuse of medications among American youth," said Pasierb. "Today's teens have gone from abusing street drugs to getting high from products they all too easily find at home. Communication between parents and kids is the most effective prevention tool when it comes to protecting your teen from abusing medications. Kids who report learning 'a lot' about the dangers of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to use illicit drugs."

While the NSDUH data is definitely very good news, it should also serve as a reminder to parents and caregivers across the country that all teenagers - regardless of who they are or where they live - are subject to the lure of legal drugs, illegal drugs and alcohol. For this reason, Partnership continues to focus its efforts on motivating, supporting and empowering parents with the resources and tools they need to help protect their children from drug abuse.

Partnership Responds to Parents Who Say they Want More Help Talking With Kids
Because many parents say they have a difficult time talking with kids about drugs and alcohol, this summer, the Partnership launched a new nationwide parent movement called Time To Talk ™, designed to encourage and empower parents and caregivers to have ongoing and frequent conversations with their teens and tweens about the risks of using drugs and alcohol.

TimeToTalk.org provides parents helpful tips and tools to begin these conversations and the encouragement to help parents keep it going over the long haul. Parents and caregivers can sign up for free monthly newsletters and gain access to tools such as, Tips for Getting the Conversation Started, How to Help Your Kid Turn Down Drugs and a new tool for grandparents, Grandparents Hold a Key to Keeping Teens Healthy and Drug-Free. Insightful content and resources are updated and added frequently. The site also links to the Time To Talk Yahoo Group, an online parent forum that enables parents to share experiences and connect with others facing similar situations.

"In our previous research, teens reported that foremost among the reasons they don't use drugs is because they don't want to disappoint their parents," said Pasierb. We want to help parents and caregivers understand that they are a huge influence on the choices kids make for themselves and Time ToTalk.org can give them access to the information, tools and resources to help parents make these conversations an ongoing part of their everyday lives."

Nevertheless, the current NSDUH underscores the real progress and reason for hope in helping reduce the demand for drugs among teens and the data demand the attention of all in the prevention field. Educating youth about the dangers of drugs and alcohol is an on-going job; a job that parents, caregivers, schools and members of the community must all do together.

---Steve Pasierb