American Notes DRUGS

The statistics are nothing to celebrate: 58% of high school seniors admit to having tried illegal drugs at least once. But the percentage of students experimenting with illicit drugs actually dropped last year -- as it has every year but one since 1978. That encouraging news comes from the twelfth annual survey on teenage drug use conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research.

Illicit drug use by teenagers last year was 3% lower than in 1985. The ! number of students using cocaine showed a modest overall decline, though frequency of use -- especially of crack -- has grown. For legal drugs, the numbers are more disturbing. Nearly two-thirds reported prior-month use of alcohol, and 19% admitted to being daily cigarette smokers -- a small drop for the smokers and virtually no change for the drinkers.