Editing Adolescence (section)

=====Prevalence=====
Following a steady decline beginning in the late 1990s up through the mid-2000s and a moderate increase in the early 2010s, illicit drug use among adolescents has roughly plateaued in the U.S. Aside from alcohol, [[marijuana]] is the most commonly indulged drug habit during adolescent years. Data collected by the [[National Institute on Drug Abuse]] shows that between the years of 2015 and 2018, past year marijuana usage among 8th graders declined from 11.8% to 10.5%; among 10th grade students, usage rose from 25.4% to 27.50%; and among 12th graders, usage rose slightly from 34.9% to 35.9%.<ref name="Abuse">{{cite web|url=https://www.drugabuse.gov/trends-statistics/monitoring-future/monitoring-future-study-trends-in-prevalence-various-drugs|title=Monitoring the Future Study: Trends in Prevalence of Various Drugs|last=Abuse|first=National Institute on Drug|website=drugabuse.gov|access-date=July 21, 2019}}</ref> Additionally, while the early 2010s saw a surge in the popularity of [[MDMA]], usage has stabilized with 2.2% of 12th graders using MDMA in the past year in the U.S.<ref name="Abuse"/> The heightened usage of ecstasy most likely ties in at least to some degree with the rising popularity of [[Rave|rave culture]].

One significant contribution to the increase in teenage [[substance abuse]] is an increase in the availability of [[Prescription drug|prescription medication]]. With an increase in the diagnosis of behavioral and attentional disorders for students, taking pharmaceutical drugs such as Vicodin and Adderall for pleasure has become a prevalent activity among adolescents: 9.9% of high school seniors report having abused prescription drugs within the past year.<ref name="Abuse"/>

In the U.S., teenage alcohol use rose in the late 2000s and is currently stable at a moderate level. Out of a polled body of U.S. students age 12–18, 8.2% of 8th graders reported having been on at least one occasion having consumed alcohol within the previous month; for 10th graders, the number was 18.6%, and for 12th graders, 30.2%.<ref name="NIDA">[http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120930053712/http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/high-school-youth-trends|date=September 30, 2012}}, National Institute of Drug Abuse. (July 2012). "Drugfacts: High school and youth."</ref> More drastically, cigarette smoking has become a far less prevalent activity among American middle- and high-school students; in fact, a greater number of teens now smoke marijuana than smoke cigarettes, with one recent study showing a respective 23.8% versus 43.6% of surveyed high school seniors.<ref name="NIDA" /> Recent studies have shown that male late adolescents are far more likely to smoke cigarettes rather than females. The study indicated that there was a discernible gender difference in the prevalence of smoking among the students. The finding of the study shows that more males than females began smoking when they were in primary and high schools whereas most females started smoking after high school.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mudhovozi |first1=Pilot |last2=Mashamba |first2=Tshilidzi |last3=Sodi |first3=Tholene |title=Gender differences in cigarette smoking among university students |journal=African Journal for Physical Health Education, Recreation and Dance |date=1 September 2012 |volume=18 |issue=sup-3 |pages=117–130 |hdl=10520/EJC128326 }}</ref> This may be attributed to recent changing social and political views towards marijuana; issues such as medicinal use and legalization have tended towards painting the drug in a more positive light than historically, while cigarettes continue to be vilified due to associated health risks.

Different drug habits often relate to one another in a highly significant manner. It has been demonstrated that adolescents who drink at least to some degree may be as much as sixteen times more likely than non-drinkers to use illicit drugs.<ref name="Greenblatt">{{cite report |last1=Greenblatt |first1=Janet C. |year=2000 |title=Patterns of Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Associations with Emotional and Behavioral Problems |id={{ERIC|ED448387}} |citeseerx=10.1.1.365.6700 |publisher=Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration }}</ref>