Does anyone know the percent of teens in the United States that die from drug abuse each year?

This is the most recent statistic I could find (there are obviously some somewhere else that I was not able to find). It includes more than teens I am afraid.

"In 1998 a total of 16,926 persons died of drug-induced causes in the United States (Table 20). The category 'drug-induced causes' includes not only deaths from dependent and nondependent use of drugs (legal and illegal use), but also poisoning from medically prescribed and other drugs. It excludes accidents, homicides, and other causes indirectly related to drug use. Also excluded are newborn deaths due to mother's drug use." The total number of deaths in the US in 1998 was 2,337,256.


Source: Murphy, Sheila L., Centers for Disease Control, "Deaths: Final Data for 1998,", National Vital Statistics Reports, Vol. 48, No. 11 (Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics, July 24, 2000), pp. 1, 10

I know this is a bit off topic. I find it amazing how many drug related deaths among famous people who seem to have it all only to kill themselves with overindulgence of drugs.

I went on a trip to Nicaragua, where I saw people living in conditions that were beyond belief. I said to someone that I would kill myself before going through that. Anyway, that person informed me that more Americans kill themselves in Nicaragua than Nicaraguans do. I believe drugs are a form of self destruction (slow suicide) and if you notice there is a disproportion between famous people killing themselves and the average person.
Stop reading if you are bored!
I have noticed in my life that the biggest dissapointments come when you realize that you have acheived what you have set out to do. I think this is because it is at this point that you realize that it isn't going to do it for you. For example, you graduate from college and get the job you went to college for, unless you are opposite me, you realize that this is all there is and it is hardly anyhthing to enjoy. That is where I am anyway. I have as good of a job as will fit me and I have a family that is about as healthy as one could hope for, but now it is just a matter of waiting it out.

Drugs screw ya. they screw ya bad and they screw ya good. I don't think drugs should be illegal though, everyone should find out their own limitations themselves. its a part of life.
I've done'em all, drugs really screw up your life, but it doesn't mean that people shouldn't be aloud to experiment. everyone must find out themselves. if we all followed one opinion then we;d be like nazi's.