The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) Report found that at minimum, half of all adolescents perceive great risk associated with the use of some substances, but perceive less risk for other substances.  The report used information gathered from the 2007 and 2008 NSDUH that asked individuals ages 12 to 17 how much they think people risk harming themselves physically and in other ways when using cigarettes, alcohol, and illicit drugs.  According to the report, over 50% of adolescents perceived great risk from trying heroin or LSD once or twice, but only 40% perceived great risk from having five or more drinks of alcohol once or twice a week, and 34.2% perceived great risk from smoking marijuana once a month.

To read this report in its entirety, please visit: oas.samhsa.gov/2k9/158/158RiskPerceptionHTML.pdf.