* Prevalence for all substances except alcohol and tobacco was lower in 1990 for all ethnic groups. * Alcohol consumption between 1988 and 1990 increased most dramatically among Blacks: lifetime prevalence rose from 64 percent in 1988 to 83 percent in 1990 (Figure 4). * Hispanic lifetime alcohol prevalence rose slightly between 1988 and 1990 from 74 percent to 81 percent. Among Whites, lifetime alcohol prevalence was essentially unchanged between 1988 and 1990, bringing all three ethnic groups to approximately the same level of lifetime use (82 percent). 1990 Substance Use and Gender * Lifetime alcohol use between 1988 and 1990 rose 10 percent among female students (from 74 to 81 percent), which means their level of use is now almost the same as males. * Between 1988 and 1990, females showed greater decreases in use than males for all substances except inhalants and uppers, which showed equal decrease in both genders, and hallucinogens, which showed a greater decrease among males. * Although males and females reported approximately the same lifetime prevalence of any illicit drug (about 39 percent) in 1988, 1990 results show that female prevalence is now slightly lower (22 percent versus 28 percent for males) (Figure 5). Fig 5 Lifetime Prevalence of 10% Selected Substances, 5% Second- ary Students by 0% Gender, 1988 and 1990 ANY ILLICIT MARIJUANA COCAINE OR CRACK 50% UPPERS DOWNERS 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 1988-MALE 1988-FEMALE 1990-MALE 1990-FEMALE * Use of steroids is almost exclusively a male phenomenon; current use by males is about 1 percent in grades seven through eleven, and almost zero among seniors. Since the survey was administered in the spring, this decline among seniors could be due to the end of their involvement with high school athletics.
* Prevalence for all substances except alcohol and tobacco was lower in 1990 for all ethnic groups. * Alcohol consumption between 1988 and 1990 increased most dramatically among Blacks: lifetime prevalence rose from 64 percent in 1988 to 83 percent in 1990 (Figure 4). * Hispanic lifetime alcohol prevalence rose slightly between 1988 and 1990 from 74 percent to 81 percent. Among Whites, lifetime alcohol prevalence was essentially unchanged between 1988 and 1990, bringing all three ethnic groups to approximately the same level of lifetime use (82 percent). 1990 Substance Use and Gender * Lifetime alcohol use between 1988 and 1990 rose 10 percent among female students (from 74 to 81 percent), which means their level of use is now almost the same as males. * Between 1988 and 1990, females showed greater decreases in use than males for all substances except inhalants and uppers, which showed equal decrease in both genders, and hallucinogens, which showed a greater decrease among males. * Although males and females reported approximately the same lifetime prevalence of any illicit drug (about 39 percent) in 1988, 1990 results show that female prevalence is now slightly lower (22 percent versus 28 percent for males) (Figure 5). Fig 5 Lifetime Prevalence of Selected Substances, Second- ary Students by Gender, 1988 and 1990 50% 45% 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% ANY ILLICIT MARIJUANA COCAINE OR CRACK UPPERS DOWNERS 1988-MALE 1988-FEMALE 1990-MALE 1990-FEMALE * Use of steroids is almost exclusively a male phenomenon; current use by males is about 1 percent in grades seven through eleven, and almost zero among seniors. Since the survey was administered in the spring, this decline among seniors could be due to the end of their involvement with high school athletics.
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