Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Survey: New Mexico Teens Report High Rates Of Drug Use

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A national survey of high school students has found that New Mexico teens have some of the highest rates of drug use involving a variety of illegal substances. State health officials tell the Albuquerque Journal that ingrained social behavior and the easy access to drugs are among the factors that are contributing to the trend. According to the nationwide survey, New Mexico ranked second highest for cocaine and Ecstasy use, fifth highest for methamphetamine and eighth highest for heroin. The survey also found one in four students reported using marijuana at least once in the 30 days before the survey. State Epidemiologist Dr. Michael Landen says New Mexico has historically had higher rates of substance abuse than other states, making the survey results unsurprising.