Alcohol, marijuana and inhalants are the drugs most used by high school and middle school youth

U.S. and Florida alcohol, marijuana and illicit drug use were not significantly different in 2000, but 8th grade use of illicit drugs and inhalants were higher in Florida. Binge drinking is shockingly high with 13 percent of 8th graders, 22 percent of 10th graders and 29 percent of 12th graders in Florida reporting having five or more drinks at one sitting within the last two weeks.

Figure 75: Drug Use Among 8th, 10th and 12th Grade Students in Florida and U.S., 2000

Source: U.S. data -- Monitoring the Future Study (MTF), NIH, NIDA 2000 http://www.health.org/newsroom/mtf/00data/index.htm
Source: Florida Department of Children and Families Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey 2000.
http://www5.myflorida.com/cf_web/myflorida2/healthhuman/substanceabusementalhealth/publications/fysas/flrpt.pdf
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(*) Used 1 time or more within the last 30 days prior to the survey: (**) 5 or more drinks at one sitting within the last 2 weeks

Drug use is highest among white non-Hispanic, Hispanic and American Indian students and lowest among African American and Asian students in Florida.

Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) - Substance and Alcohol Use Alcohol and substance use in pregnancy are a major cause of developmental disabilities in newborns. Alcohol use and driving is a contributing factor to automobile crashes and potentially disabling injuries. As children with developmental disabilities and special health care needs become older, they are also vulnerable to peer pressures. Families of CSHCN in the task forces working on this document expressed concern for their adolescent children's greater vulnerability to being set up by other children and by their own heightened desire for acceptance. More data is needed on alcohol and substance use health care needs and health care behaviors of CSHCN.

Alcohol and substance abuse have substantial harmful affects on families with children, affecting their ability to appropriately care for and nurture children ⁽⁷⁾ and is associated with domestic violence, child abuse and neglect.^{(9, 10)} The American Pediatric Association is advising Pediatricians to counsel youth and children before adolescence on the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse. While parents, children and clinicians believe this would be helpful, (Stevens et al., 2002)⁽¹¹⁾ found no significant intervention effects and conclude that two consults during pediatric visits are not enough. A community-wide effort from numerous sectors is needed.

Economic pressures (poverty and homelessness) and social/emotional conditions (depression, family drug use, and peer social group drug/alcohol use) ⁽¹²⁾ are associated with greater risk of misuse of and addiction to alcohol and drugs. There are many attendant physical health problems associated with alcohol and substance misuse (e.g., inhalants can cause injury to the liver and kidney and neurological damage; HIV or other infection can be caused from injectable drug use).