More than 70 percent said they had very good or excellent relationships with their mothers, but only 58 percent said they related as well with their fathers. Confirming recent studies that overall youth substance abuse has leveled off, the survey found that 40 percent of teens said the drug situation at school is getting worse, down from 55 percent in 1998. I never want to try alcohol, or all that stuff. He credits the role of his parents, and in particular his strong relationship with his father, for his decision. Parents in the survey were more pessimistic, with 45 percent of the 1,000 polled thinking their children will use drugs someday.
Experts advise parents to discuss their past drug use honestly with their children.
Teens who reported their fathers have more than two drinks a day have a 71 percent greater risk of substance abuse. Nearly 90 percent of teens said they felt safe in school. More than half said they attended a school where drugs were used, and 20 percent said that if they wanted to buy marijuana they could get it in less than a half-hour. Almost half of teens who had never used marijuana credited their parents with their decision. Medical Correspondent Eileen O'Connor and The Associated Press contributed to this report.