Current illicit drug use among teens is continuing to decline, according to a new report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released today. The study also shows positive signs that teens are seeing the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and methamphetamine and are pushing back. Among youth ages 12-17, the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Nation's largest substance use survey, shows that the significant decline in overall past month illicit drug use that began in 2002 continued through 2007, from 11.6 percent to 9.5 percent.

The survey, released at the start of the 19th Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, shows that the reductions in youth drug use occurred for nearly every type of illicit drug including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, LSD, and Ecstasy. The survey also shows dramatic declines in meth use, down by 67 percent (from 0.3% to 0.1%) and prescription drug abuse among teens, which declined overall by 18 percent, from 4 percent to 3.3 percent between 2002-2007.

EDC, Inc. has been awarded a base contract, with four option years, by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (SAMHSA/CSAP) to operate a new integrated Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies (CAPT). SAMHSA is a public agency within the Department of Health and Human Services.

The contract will enable EDC and its regional subcontract partners to provide training and technical assistance on substance abuse prevention and related issues. This work will extend and enhance CSAP's efforts to prevent and reduce substance abuse and associated public health issues across the lifespan with attention to underserved audiences such as returning veterans and their families as well as young adults (18-24 years-old).