Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Public Affairs 202-307-7977

1. Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Public Affairs 202-307-7977 Successes in the Fight Against Drugs President’s Goals: In 2002, the Bush Administration set ambitious goals to reduce drug use. The first was to lower drug use by 10% over 2 years. We exceeded that goal--youth drug use dropped by 11% over 2 years. The second was to lower drug use by 25% over 5 years. We nearly reached that goal by achieving a 23% decline since 2001 for 8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined. Reductions in illicit drug use among 8th and 10th graders exceeded the President’s goal, falling 30% and 26% since 2001, respectively. Impact on Demand: Teen drug use: 840,000 fewer teenagers are using illicit drugs now than in 2001. This is a 23% decline since 2001. Marijuana: Current marijuana use by teens has dropped by 25% since 2001. Meth use: Current meth use among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders plummeted 50% since 2001. Ecstasy: Since 2001, current use of Ecstasy has been slashed by 61% for 8th graders and 54% for both 10th and 12th graders. Cocaine: Between 1986 and 2006, past year cocaine use among high school seniors dropped by more than half (55%). Steroids: Since 2001, current use of steroids by teens (8th, 10th, and 12th graders combined) has dropped 20%. LSD:Since 2001,current LSD use has dropped an astounding 60% by 8th graders, 53% by 10th graders, and 74% for 12th graders. Workplace drug use: Drug use among workers is at its lowest levels in 18 years. Since 1988, positive drug tests have fallen by 72 percent, from 13.6% in 1988 to 3.8% in 2006. Workplace meth use: 2006 workplace drug tests show a 45% decline in meth use among employees nationwide since 2004. Workplace cocaine use: Cocaine use among America’s workers declined almost 16% during the first six months of 2007, compared to 2006. October 2007