High school senior drug use declines. (includes related articles on alcohol 'binge drinking among younger children and the Household and DAWN surveys)

Significant decreases in illicit drug use among high school seniors were registered between 1990 and 1991 -- with the rate of any illegal drug use within the past year down from 33% to 29%, about half the rate of use in 1980, according to the 17th annual survey of high school seniors. Drug use by seniors stood at its lowest level since the surveys began in 1975. The results of the survey, conducted by the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research under a grant from NIDA, were announced by HHS Secretary Louis Sullivan at a White House briefing on the 1991 National Drug Strategy. They were hailed by President Bush who said, "Our young people are now getting the message." …