Inhalants     Marijuana Use     Prescription/Nonprescription Drugs    

Inhalants
It has been reported in the 2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey that after alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, the most commonly used drug among Florida students is inhalants. Since inhalants are often the easiest drug to obtain, inhalant use tends to be more prevalent among younger students. Statistically speaking, young White males have the highest usage rates, although Hispanic and American Indian populations also show high rates of usage. One of the negative consequences of inhalant use is associated with the use of other illicit drugs later in life.

Many parents are unaware of the dangers posed to their children from common household products that contain volatile solvents or aerosols. Products such as glues, nail polish remover, lighter fluid, spray paints, deodorant and hair sprays, whipped cream canisters, and cleaning fluids are widely available and can be abused by youth. Many parents, on the contrary, are often more concerned about illicit drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, and LSD.

Recent Use

• With the exception of students in the 5th grade, there have been significant declines in the prevalence of recent inhalant use between 2004 and 2006. 
   
• In 2006, male students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 report significant declines in the prevalence of recent inhalant use compared to recent use in 2004. Prevalence rates also declined among female students in grades 6, 8, and 12 compared to rates reported in 2004.
   

Lifetime Use

• The observed decrease in the prevalence of lifetime inhalant use between 2004 and 2006 among students in grades 8, 10, and 12 is significant.
   
• In 2006, a decrease in the prevalence of lifetime inhalant use is reported among both male students and female students in the 10th grade compared to 2004. Male students in the 12th grade and female students in the 8th grade also report significant declines in lifetime inhalant use compared to 2004.

Marijuana Use

According to the 2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey, between 2000 and 2005 there was a decrease in prevalence rates for the majority of alcohol, tobacco and other drug categories among Florida students. Most notably, recent marijuana use declined by 4 percentage points during this period. It has been well reported that the use of marijuana can negatively affect an individual’s physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being. Marijuana smoke, like cigarette smoke, can harm the lungs, impair short-term memory, verbal skills and judgment and distort perception. 

Recent Use by Pinellas County Students

• Significant declines in recent marijuana use are reported for students in all grade levels between 2004 and 2006.
   

• Recent marijuana use rates among male students in grades 6, 10, and 12, and among female students in grades 6, 8, and 10, also show significant declines. Fifth-grade female students report no recent use of marijuana.

Lifetime Use by Pinellas County Students

• In terms of the prevalence of lifetime marijuana use, significant declines are observed among students in grades 8 and 10. Similar declines in the prevalence of lifetime marijuana use are reported for both male and female students in the 8th and 10th grades.
   

• Rates of lifetime marijuana use increase substantially for 8th-grade students compared to students in 6th grade.
   

• In 2006, male students in the 6th and 8th grades report significantly higher prevalence of recent marijuana use compared to female students in these grade levels. The prevalence of recent marijuana use is higher among 12th-grade female students compared to 12th-grade male students.

Prescription/Nonprescription Drugs

According to the 2006 National Institute on Drug Abuse Monitoring the Future study, recent use of OxyContin decreased between 2005 and 2006 among 12th-grade students; however, use among 8th-grade students nearly doubled since 2002. The recent use of Vicodin has remained stable since 2002, but at relatively high levels among both middle and high school students.

In the 2006 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey: State Report, “lifetime and past-30-day prevalence rates among surveyed Florida students reported that 8.3% of the students used prescription pain relievers in their lifetimes and 3.2% used them in the past 30 days.”

Recent Use: Prescription Drugs Without a Prescription
 

• There have been significant declines in reported recent use of recent prescription drugs between 2004 and 2006 among middle and high school students.
   
• Similar patterns of recent prescription drug use are also reported among both male and female students in each grade level.
   

Lifetime Use: Prescription Drugs without a Prescription
 

• The trend in the lifetime use of prescription drugs follows the trend observed for recent prescription drug use; there have been significant declines in reported lifetime use of prescription drugs between 2004 and 2006 among middle and high school students.
   
• Significant declines in lifetime prescription drug use are also reported among male and female students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12 compared to use in 2004.
   

Recent Use: Non-Prescription Drugs
 

• Students in the 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades report significantly lower recent use of non-prescription drugs in 2004 compared to 2002.
   
• Recent non-prescription drug use remains relatively stable among students in grades 8, 10, and 12.
   
• In 2006, there is no significant difference the prevalence of recent non-prescription drug use among male and female students in any grade level.
   

Lifetime Use: Non-Prescription Drugs
 

• Students in the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades report significantly lower lifetime use of non-prescription drugs in 2004 compared to 2002.
   
• Recent non-prescription drug use remains relatively stable among students in grades 8, 10, and 12.
   
• In 2006, female students in the 10th grade report significantly higher lifetime non-prescription drug use, compared to males in this grade level.

Funded Agencies:

Operation PAR – Adolescent Residential Center
Operation PAR – Alpha
Operation PAR – Chemical Abuse Prevention
Operation PAR – COSA
Operation PAR – LiveFree!
City of St. Petersburg – TASCO Center Based Programs
R’Club – HIP
 

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