Prevalence of Illicit Drug Use among Youths

In 2002, almost 3 million youths (12 percent) aged 12 to 17 used an illicit drug in the past month. Marijuana was the illicit drug used most frequently by youths in the past month (8 percent). During the past month, 4 percent of youths used prescription-type drugs nonmedically, 1 percent used inhalants, and 1 percent used hallucinogens, including LSD. Cocaine (including crack) and heroin were each used by less than 1 percent of youths.