Thirty percent of teens pointed to drug use and abuse as the most important issue they face today, MTV reported February 13, 2003. Tied with Drug use and abuse was the notion of war with Iraq. Both issues topped the economy, safe sex/premarital sex/teen pregnancy, education, violence and peer pressure in the survey.

The poll, taken from a representative pool of hundreds of young people between 14 and 24 years old, was commissioned by MTV and conducted by Peter D. Hart Associates.

International conflict and terrorism have leapt to the forefront of the minds of young people chiefly because most feel that war -- and consequently increased terrorism close to home -- are near certainties.

Young people were also concerned about the threat of nuclear attack, with some 60 percent of those surveyed saying that they are worried about nuclear weapons being used against the U.S.