There's been a huge increase in teen ecstasy use in the United States.

Tell us something we don't know.

L.A., the rave capital of the nation, probably accounts for most of it.

According to the The 22nd annual Partnership Attitude Tracking Study, teen ecstasy use has increased 67 percent between 2008 and 2010.

Last year one in 10 of the teen respondents reported using MDMA. That means about 1 million 9 through 10th-graders in America dropped E in the last month, according to the report (PDF).

Credit: drugfree.org

Credit: drugfree.org

Marijuana use was also up 22 percent during the same period. Alcohol? One in four said they had their first full-on drink before age 12!

We think we know what's happening here. It's the 1970s again.

The Partnership for a Drug Free America, sponsor of the study, isn't impressed: Steve Pasierb, president:

As teen drug and alcohol use take a turn for the worse, a heavier burden is placed squarely on the shoulders of parents – who need to take an active role in preventing substance abuse in their families, take action if they suspect their child is using and get immediate help for a child who has developed a problem with drugs or drinking. We are troubled, but not completely surprised, by these numbers because, in schools and communities across the country, support for drug education and prevention programs has been cut drastically due to budgetary pressures.

Of course, if some public officials in L.A. had their way, the best way to deal with this would be to place all these E-dropping kids in a controlled environment — a rave on public property, say — and let them party under proper supervision.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.