Posted on August 13, 2005

Substance Abuse

Indiana's investment in drug prevention programs seems to be paying off. According to the latest report on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use by the Indiana Prevention Resource Center at Indiana University Bloomington, usage rates for most drugs by Indiana youth are at their lowest since the mid-1990s. Reported use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana continues to decline, in many cases by more than three percentage points, and rates of binge drinking and alcohol prevalence have fallen below the national average. More good news: Daily cigarette use among sixth- through twelfth-graders fell to 9.3 percent, less than half of the 1996 rate.