Which of the following statements regarding drug use among 8th through 12th grade students is false?

• A. Rates of cigarette smoking among students have declined over the past decade.
• B. The prevalence of alcohol use generally increases with grade level among students.
• C. Most students in 8th through 12th grade have experimented with illicit drugs by 8th grade.
• D. Marijuana is one of the most commonly used illicit substances among high school students.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Carefully read each statement to understand what it claims about drug use among 8th through 12th grade students.
2. Step 2: Recall or review reliable data on adolescent drug use trends, focusing on cigarette smoking rates, alcohol use by grade level, marijuana use, and experimentation with illicit drugs by 8th grade.
3. Step 3: Evaluate the statement about cigarette smoking rates by considering whether research shows a decline over the past decade among students.
4. Step 4: Assess the statement about alcohol use increasing with grade level by understanding typical patterns of alcohol experimentation and use as students get older.
5. Step 5: Analyze the claim that most students have experimented with illicit drugs by 8th grade, comparing it to known prevalence rates, and identify if this statement is inconsistent with the data, making it false.