Teen drug use has long been a concern for both parents and school administrators alike. Recent studies have shown that the usual drugs are still around, while new drugs are making a debut with teenagers. The landscape of drug use among students is changing, with new trends emerging. State of Teenage Drug Abuse Illicit drug use remains high amongst students in grades 8-12 both in terms of the total percentage of students using drugs and also the frequency of drug usage. On the positive side, the use of inhalants is down, which is likely due to stricter regulations on purchasing items like canned air. Ecstasy and cocaine use are also dropping off significantly. And most surprisingly, alcohol consumption is at an all-time low among students. However, the main drug of choice among teenagers is marijuana; mainly because it’s viewed as less risky than other drugs. There is a strong inverse correlation between perception of risk and drug use, which is to say that as percept...