Drug Abuse Declines Nationwide

Here's some good news in the war on addiction: Both illicit and prescription drug abuse dropped nationwide in 2008.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported there was "significant declines" in the abuse of prescription drugs, methamphetamine and cocaine, among other drugs. The report was released late last week by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SAMHSA said:

-- Methamphetamine abuse among people 12 and over fell from 529,000 in 2007 to 314,000 in 2008.

-- Prescription drug abuse dropped from 3.3 percent to 2.9 percent in 2008.

-- Cocaine use fell to 0.7 percent from 1 percent in 2006.

Alcohol use by college students -- a demographic that is a target for binge drinking -- fell again in 2008 for the third year in a row. Just over 16 percent of college students ages 18-22 reported heavy alcohol use, down from the high of 19.5 percent in 2005.

The use of marijuana among the nation's youth, however, has held steady. About 6.7 percent of youth ages 12-17 said they used marijuana within the past month.