Final answer:
During the 1980s, drug use was a significant concern, influenced by the rise of crack cocaine and strict policies like 'three strikes laws.' Though the incidence of drug use among high school seniors is not explicitly stated, factors suggest an increase or possibly a decrease due to societal efforts to counteract drug use. The exact trend among high school seniors is not explicitly provided by the reference information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks about illicit drug use among high school seniors during the 1980s. During that time, particularly during the Reagan administration, the United States saw a significant escalation in the war on drugs. This period was marked by the rise of crack cocaine use among some populations, and an increase in both media attention and public fear regarding drug use and its impact on communities.
Large-scale policy initiatives, like the introduction of "three strikes laws," aimed at curbing drug use resulted in increased incarceration rates. Public perception of drugs fluctuated over the years, and a Pew Research Center study highlighted shifting attitudes, especially towards marijuana, which, by 2019, saw two-thirds of Americans supporting some form of legalization or decriminalization. However, specifically within the context of the 1980s, there was heightened concern about drugs due to these trends.
The information suggests that during the 1980s, the use of illicit drugs among high school seniors likely did not remain stable, and it appears to contradict a characterization of drug use as fluctuating 'wildly and randomly' from year to year. Instead, it likely either increased due to the drug epidemic during the era or decreased due to the intense law enforcement efforts and societal pushback against drug use.