Editing Monitoring the Future

The '''Monitoring the Future''' ('''MTF''') study, also known as the '''National High School Senior Survey''',<ref name=P&D>[http://monitoringthefuture.org/purpose.html Purpose and Design of Monitoring the Future]</ref> is a long-term [[epidemiological]] study that surveys trends in legal and [[illicit drug]] use among American [[adolescent]]s and [[adult]]s as well as personal levels of perceived risk and disapproval for each drug. The survey is conducted by researchers at the [[University of Michigan]]'s [[University of Michigan Institute for Social Research|Institute for Social Research]], funded by [[research grant]]s from the [[National Institute on Drug Abuse]], one of the [[National Institutes of Health]].<ref name=MTF2010>Johnston, L. D., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E. (2011). [http://monitoringthefuture.org/pubs/monographs/mtf-overview2010.pdf Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings, 2010]. Ann Arbor: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan.</ref>

== Survey design ==
The survey began in 1975 and only focused on that year's senior class. [[Questionnaires]] are sent out yearly by mail. Beginning in 1976, a proportion of survey participants were also chosen for [[wikt:biennial|biennial]] reevaluations. In 1991, the survey was expanded to include 8th and 10th grade students.<ref name=P&D /> The questionnaire is [[Anonymity|anonymous]] for 8th- and 10th-grade students while the questionnaire for 12th-grade students is confidential—name and address information is collected for [[Longitudinal study|longitudinal]] follow-up surveys.<ref name=MTF2010 />

Nationally representative samples of 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-grade students (The 2010 MTF survey encompassed about 46,500 students from almost 400 schools nationwide<ref name=MTF2010 />) receive a questionnaire investigating [[substance abuse|substance use]] patterns, attitudes and beliefs about drugs, perceived availability of drugs, and norms among peer and role model groups. Currently, approximately 50,000 8th, 10th and 12th-grade students complete the survey annually.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/|title=Welcome to the MTF Website|date=2015-12-16|website=Monitoringthefuture.org|accessdate=2016-01-03}}</ref>

The survey also evaluates a variety of topics beyond drug use. Questionnaire questions also explore subjects' occupational and educational plans and experiences, attitudes about [[gender role]]s, attitudes and experiences with people of a different race/ethnicity, trust in government and other institutions, concerns about [[the environment]], [[media consumption]], victimization and delinquency, among other things. Follow-up studies into adulthood also cover [[marriage]] and family formation, college attendance, military service, civilian employment, [[unemployment]], and other topics.{{Citation needed|date=June 2018}}

== Regular marijuana and cigarette use by 12th graders ==

Chart below is from a NIDA article. Text at the top was added later. Chart is for regular marijuana and cigarette use by 12th graders in the USA in the past 30 days. For cigarettes actual daily use is measured. For marijuana it is for use on 20 or more occasions in the past 30 days.<ref name=2018charts>Miech, R. A., Schulenberg, J. E., Johnston, L. D., Bachman, J. G., O'Malley, P. M., & Patrick, M. E. (December 17, 2018). "National Adolescent Drug Trends in 2018." Monitoring the Future: Ann Arbor, MI. [http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/18data/18drtbl4.pdf Stats source] is linked from the [http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/18data.html#2018data-drugs charts index]. From [http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/18data/18drfootnotes.pdf footnotes]:  "Daily use is defined as use on 20 or more occasions in the past 30 days except for cigarettes and [[smokeless tobacco]], for which actual daily use is measured." This particular footnote is for more than one chart. Smokeless tobacco is not measured in the [https://d14rmgtrwzf5a.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/daily_marijuana_use.gif marijuana and cigarettes chart]. That NIDA chart is found in [https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-facts-parents-need-to-know/want-to-know-more-some-faqs-about-marijuana this NIDA article].</ref>

[[File:Regular marijuana and cigarette use by 12th graders in the USA in the last 30 days. By year.gif|thumb|500px|none|Green line is for marijuana. Dark blue/purple line is for cigarettes.<ref name=2018charts/>]]

== See also ==
*[[Drugs in the United States]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/ Monitoring the Future]
*[http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/pubs.html List of Monitoring the Future surveys]
*[https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/series/35 ICPSR Data Series]
*[[National Institute on Drug Abuse]]: "[http://teens.drugabuse.gov/drug-facts NIDA for Teens: Drug Facts]".

[[Category:Drugs in the United States]]
[[Category:Epidemiological study projects]]