Teen Cocaine Statistics

Crack and cocaine addiction can happen to anyone. Adults are not the only people who use and abuse cocaine, teenagers are also using cocaine. Teen cocaine use appears to be on the rise again. Here are some statistics related to teen cocaine use.

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For a long time, cocaine use amongst teens has declined as focus shifted to other drugs. However, cocaine is coming down in price in some areas, and the BBC reports that teen cocaine use is on the rise again. Teen cocaine statistics might be a little surprising to some, but it is important to realize that teen cocaine use is a very real problem. One of the most concerning issues associated with cocaine abuse amongst teens is that, according to the Department of Justice, 47.1% of teenagers claim that they know how they can lay their hands on cocaine. This is a little disturbing, and it says a lot about the availability of cocaine. Here are some other teen cocaine statistics:

  • 25% of high school students are offered drugs on high school grounds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
  • 35.9 million people over the age of 12 have tried cocaine, according to the National Survey on Drug Use.
  • 52.7% of 12th grade students believe that cocaine does not pose a serious danger, if only used once, according to the National Survey on Drug Use.
  • Half of all drug related emergency room visits are related to cocaine, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
  • Emergency room visits involving cocaine have risen by 33% in recent years, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
  • Males are more likely that females to use cocaine, even amongst teenagers.
  • American Indians and Alaskan Natives represent the racial groups most likely to abuse cocaine followed by African Americans, and then Caucasians, reports the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
  • About 0.7% of the population of those over the age of 12 use cocaine regularly (have used it in the last month), reports the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The news is not all bad when it comes to teen cocaine statistics, though. The age group that is most likely to use cocaine is the 18 to 25 group. Older teenagers are more likely to use cocaine, and 10th graders have seen a decline in cocaine use, according to the National Survey on Drug Use. Unfortunately, this decline in use among younger users has not been translating into the same decline by older teenagers. However, even older teenagers agree that regular cocaine use can cause be dangerous. 59.9% of teenagers believe that cocaine can be quite risky when used regularly. However, the fact that the National Survey on Drug Use reports that many students do not see a problem with a single use of cocaine is somewhat discouraging.

Cocaine is not as popular as other teenage drugs of choice, though. The most popular drugs abused by teenagers are alcohol, marijuana and prescription drugs. However, cocaine use is on the rise again, after dipping in the 1990s. Many different government agencies report data that indicates that teens are more likely to use cocaine if they have used marijuana or alcohol in the past. Indeed, for many teens, cocaine is not the first drug they try. In fact, teens that drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to try cocaine than teenagers who never try alcohol.

It is important to be on the look out for behavior that could indicate drug abuse -- especially cocaine abuse. Be aware of drastic changes in your teenager's habits and school performance. Watch for signs that he or she is stealing money or items from around the house; it might be an effort to support a drug habit. Because cocaine can be so damaging -- and addictive -- it is important to get your teenager the help he or she needs in order to overcome a cocaine problem.

Related Article: Crack Cocaine Warning Signs >>