The 2003 Teens Partnership Attitude Tracking Study (PATS), released by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America (PDFA), says that more teens are recognizing the risks of marijuana and, as a result, may be less likely to start using the drug, according to a Feb. 25 news release from the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The survey also found an increase in the number of teens who have seen or heard anti-drug advertisements since the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign began in 1998.

According to the study, 52 percent of teens were exposed to anti-drug ads in 2003, compared with 32 percent in 1998. Furthermore, one in three teens in 2003 said they “learned a lot” about the risks of drugs from the ads, compared with one in five in 1998.

“The PATS survey reinforces earlier reports that showed an 11-percent drop in youth drug use … This research shows many understand the risks associated with marijuana use,” said John Walters, director of the ONDCP. “We hope this growing awareness will keep teens from using marijuana themselves and encourage them to take action when a friend is using.”

The survey also found that more teens are aware of the potential risks of using marijuana, such as getting in trouble with the law, losing their driver’s license, or not getting into a good college.