• Illegal drug use often begins in the teenage years. Nationwide, nearly one quarter of high school seniors report they have used an illegal drug within the last 30 days.

• The brain does not reach maturation until about age 25. Drug use can significantly interfere with this important time of brain development.

• Drug use, and in particular marijuana use, is becoming normalized, with fewer youth perceiving risk of drug use. As perceived risk decreases, rates of drug use increase.

• The percentage of youth using any illegal drug has increased in recent years after considerable declines in the previous decade. This is largely due to increases in marijuana use, the most widely used illegal drug other than alcohol.

• The nonmedical use of prescription drugs continues to be a national problem, both among youth and adults.

• Renewed, effective drug use prevention efforts are needed to reduce rates of drug use.

What IBH Is Doing

• In 2011, IBH began a new initiative to improve drug use prevention, with special focus paid to the connection between youth drug use, particularly marijuana, and the nation's high dropout rates from high schools and colleges.

• IBH has made a short video that encourages parents to be clear and direct in talking with their teens about why they should not use marijuana. It provides the latest research on teen marijuana use, including research that shows that teens do listen to their parents and that parents do make a difference

• IBH is working with the Center on Young Adult Health and Development at the University of Maryland School of Public Health on several projects that confirm the relationship between illegal drug use and dropping out of high school and college.

• IBH is developing comprehensive presentations and educational materials for parents and for youth about the many adverse consequences of youth marijuana use and strategies to prevent and stop youth drug use.

  

• IBH has developed a website as a resource for schools, students, administrators and parents that provides comprehensive information about Random Student Drug Testing (RSDT) programs. RSDT programs are non-punitive, confidential and complement existing drug prevention programs in the school, the family and the community.