LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - The survey found that the number of students in grades 9 through 12 that reported drinking alcohol in the last month rose 11 percent last year.

Alcohol use among teens was reported at 39 percent as opposed to 35 percent in 2008. The increase shows that 5.8 million teens are drinking alcohol on a regular basis.

In addition, 25 percent of the teens surveyed reported smoking marijuana in the last month, up from 19 percent.

Pot and alcohol use had been on a steady decline since 1998, when use hovered around 50 percent of teens for alcohol and 27 percent for pot. These figures are especially worrisome for educators and health professionals.

"I'm a little worried that we may be seeing the leading edge of a trend here," Sean Clarkin, director of strategy at The Partnership for a Drug-Free America says. "Historically, you do see the increase in recreational drugs before you see increases in some of the harder drugs."

Ecstasy, a party drug commonly used at raves with all night dancing is on the rise as well. Six percent of teens surveyed said they used Ecstasy in the past month, compared with 4 percent in 2008.