Table 6

Trends in Harmfulness of Drugs as Perceived by Eighth, Tenth, and Twelfth Graders, 1991-98

Percentage saying "great risk" (a)
8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade
How much do you think people risk harming themselves (physically or in other ways), if they ... 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 '97-'98
change
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 '97-'98
change
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 '97-'98
change
Try marijuana once or twice 40.4 39.1 36.2 31.6 28.9 27.9 25.3 28.1 +2.8sss 30.0 31.9 29.7 24.4 21.5 20.0 18.8 19.6 +0.8 27.1 24.5 21.9 19.5 16.3 15.6 14.9 16.7 +1.8
Smoke marijuana occasionally 57.956.353.848.645.944.343.145.0+1.9s 48.648.946.138.935.432.831.932.5+0/6 40.639.635.630.125.625.924.724.4-0.3
Smoke marijuana regularly 83.882.079.674.373.070.972.773.0+0.3 82.181.178.571.367.965.965.965.8-0.1 78.676.572.565.060.859.958.158.5+0.4
Try inhalants once or twice (b) 35.937.036.537.936.440.840.138.9-1.2 37.838.740.942.741.647.247.545.8-1.7 ------------------
Try inhalants regularly (b) 65.664.464.665.564.868.268.767.2-1.5 69.867.969.671.571.875.874.573.3-1.2 ------------------
Take LSD once or twice (c) ----42.138.336.736.537.034.9-2.1 ----48.746.544.745.144.543.5-1.0 46.642.339.538.836.436.234.737.4+2.7
Take LSD regularly (c) ----68.365.864.463.664.159.6-4.5s ----78.975.975.575.373.872.3-1.5 84.381.879.479.178.177.876.676.5-0.1
Try crack once or twice (b) 62.861.257.254.450.851.049.949.3-0.6 70.469.666.664.760.960.959.258.0-1.2 60.662.457.658.454.656.054.052.2-1.8
Take crack occasionally (b) 82.279.676.874.472.171.671.270.6-0.6 87.486.484.483.181.280.378.777.5-1.2 76.576.373.973.872.871.470.368.7-1.6
Try cocaine powder once or twice (b) 55.554.150.748.444.945.245.044.0-1.0 59.159.257.556.453.553.652.250.9-1.3 53.657.153.255.452.053.251.448.5-2.9
Take cocaine powder occasionally (b) 77.074.371.869.166.465.765.865.2-0.6 82.280.179.177.875.675.073.971.8-2.1s 69.870.868.670.669.168.867.765.4-2.3
Try heroin once or twice without using a needle (c) --------60.161.363.062.8-0.2 --------70.772.173.171.7-1.4 --------55.658.660.559.6-0.9
Take heroin occasionally without using a needle (c) --------76.876.679.279.0-0.2 --------85.185.886.584.9-1.6 --------71.271.074.373.4-0.9
Try one or two drinks of an alcoholic beverage (beer, wine, liquor) 11.012.112.411.611.611.810.412.1+1.7ss 9.010.110.99.49.38.99.010.1+1.1s 9.18.68.27.65.97.36.78.0+1.3
Take one or two drinks nearly every day 31.832.432.629.930.528.629.130.3+1.2 36.136.835.932.531.731.231.831.9+0.1 32.730.628.227.024.825.124.824.3-0.5
Have five or more drinks once or twice each weekend 59.158.057.754.754.151.855.656.0+0.4 54.755.954.952.952.050.951.852.5+0.7 48.649.048.346.545.249.543.042.8-0.2
Smoke one or more packs of cigarettes per day 51.650.852.750.849.850.452.654.3+1.7 60.359.360.759.057.057.959.961.9+2.0 69.469.269.567.665.668.268.770.8+2.1
Use smokeless tobacco regularly 35.135.136.935.533.534.035.236.5+1.3 40.339.644.242.238.241.042.242.8+0.6 37.435.538.936.633.237.438.640.9+2.3
Take steroids (d) 64.269.570.267.6---------- 67.172.773.472.5---------- 65.670.769.166.166.467.667.268.1+0.9
Approx. N (in thousands) = 17.4 18.7 18.4 17.4 17.5 17.9 18.8 18.1 14.7 14.8 15.3 15.9 17.0 15.7 15.6 15.0 2.5 2.7 2.8 2.6 2.6 2.4 2.6 2.5

NOTES: Level of significance of difference between the two most recent classes: s =.05, ss =.01, sss =.001. '--' indicates data not available.

SOURCE: The Monitoring the Future Study, the University of Michigan.

(a) Answer alternatives were: (1) No risk, (2) Slight risk, (3) Moderate risk, (4) Great risk, (5) Can't say, drug unfamiliar.

(b) 8th and 10th grade: Beginning in 1997, data based on two-thirds of N indicated due to changes in questionnaire forms.

(c) 8th and 10th grade: Data based on one of two forms in 1993-96; N is one-half of N indicated. Beginning in 1997, data based on one-third of N indicated due to changes in questionnaire forms.

(d) 8th and 10th grade: Data based on two forms in 1991 and 1992. Data based on one of two forms in 1993 and 1994; N is one-half of N indicated.