Less than 1% of all Americans had used illegal drugs before 1960. The Honorable Judge Robert Ulrich Chief Justice, Missouri Court Of Appeals, Western District; http://www.shalomjerusalem.com/heritage/heritage19.html

In 2002, 10% of 12th grade students reported using illicit drugs other than marijuana in the past month, the highest percentage in more than 10 years. http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/58IllicitDrugUse.cfm

2005 saw a 212% increase in prescription drug abuse by US teens. Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse http://www.ahrp.org/infomail/05/09/27a.php

In 2003, more than 20% of students in the 12th grade reported using marijuana in the past 30 days. http://www.childtrendsdatabank.org/indicators/46MarijuanaUse.cfm

Almost 47% of high school students report life-time use of marijuana. http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm [1999]

27% used marijuana during the 30 days preceding a CDC survey. ¹³http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm [1999]

4% used cocaine during the 30 days preceding the same survey. ^¹³

15% used inhalants during their lifetime. ^¹³

9% used methamphetamines during their lifetime. ^¹³

Inner-city youth with a "strong religious orientation" 54% less likely to use drugs than their peers. Harvard University study: Atheists won't save Europe by Don Feder http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/ReadArticle.asp?ID=27937

From 1960 to 1980 the teen suicide rate has risen more than 200% (1 suicide every 17 minutes). National Center for Health Statistics. Quantifying America's Decline by William J. Bennett; http://www.columbia.edu/cu/augustine/arch/usadecline.html

Youth suicide rates skyrocketed 400 percent since 1950. Lost Boys, Why Our Sons Turn Violent and How We Can Save Them, James Garbarino, Ph.D. http://www.yellodyno.com/

For every two victims of homicide in the U.S. there are three deaths from suicide [all ages]. http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html

Males ages 15 to 19 are five times as likely to commit suicide as women. http://whs.wsd.wednet.edu/Faculty/Lynch/sadd/statistics.html

8% of high school students attempted suicide during the 12 months preceding a 1999 survey. CDC survey. Centers for Disease Control; http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm

Depression among American youth increased from 400% since 1950. http://www.yellodyno.com/html/childabusestatistics.html

From1958 to 1990 the suicide rate for 15- to 19-year-olds in the US increased 267 percent. United States 1985, National Institute of Mental Health, Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration, Public Health Service, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, p. 150; Statistical Abstract of the United States, Bureau of the Census, U.S. Dept. of Commerce, (1988) p. 82, (1990) p. 86, (1993) p. 99.http://www.cchr.org/morals/return.htm

As of 2005, nearly 60 percent of drug poisoning deaths in the U.S. involved legal and illegal narcotics (up from 50 percent in 1999). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/111-03092008-1500573.html

Use of narcotic drugs rose by almost 75% among women 45–64 years of age between 1988–1994 and 1999–2002. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). http://www.mindfully.org/Health/2007/Prescription-Related-Fatalities5feb07.htm

Spending for drugs rose 40 percent from 1998 to 2000 [and continues].http://www.mercola.com/2001/may/19/prescription_drugs.htm

The average number of prescriptions per elderly person grew 45 percent from 1992 to 2000. From 1992 to 2010, the average number of prescriptions per senior is projected to grow by 96 percent. http://www.familiesusa.org/assets/pdfs/drugod852b.pdf

The number 1 and number 3 prescription sales drugs for the year 2000 were for treating ulcers. Number 2 and 5 were for cholesterol lowering medication, while numbers 4, 7 and 8 were for the treament of depression. http://www.therubins.com/geninfo/eldpresc.htm

¹³http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/r2k0609b.htm [1999]

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