Teens: Smoking is risky, but drugs and alcohol? Not so much
We're never surprised by the attitudes of teens, but new research has us at Picture of Health scratching our heads.
On one hand, it's good news for the work that public health officials have put into anti-smoking campaigns. Nearly 70 percent of kids 12 to 17 years old said there was a great risk from smoking one or more packs a day.
But only 40 percent said there was a great risk from binge drinking (defined as five or more drinks once or twice a week) and just a third perceived a great risk from smoking marijuana once a month. And just about half said there was a great risk in using cocaine once a month or LSD once or twice.
The findings, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, are based on responses from nearly 50,000 12 to 17-year olds participating in a national survey.
They bolster the government's annual report of teens drug and alcohol use released earlier this week that found teen cigarette smoking is down to the lowest level since 1975. At the same time, though, marijuana use is growing and prescription drug use remains high.
University of Michigan researcher Lloyd Johnston, who oversaw that survey, told the LA Times that kids underestimate the risks of LSD, inhalants and Ecstasy. It's a sign that "a new generation of kids are interested . . . in rediscovering these drugs, because they don't understand why they shouldn't be using them."
AP photo
Comments
Typical smoking (tobacco) behavior is done constantly: every hour of every day that a smoker is awake they will/can be engaged in that known risky laden behavior.
OTOH... typical alcohol and especially illegal drug use behavior is far more limited: evenings and weekends and similar non work hours. What risk exists is far less (at least mathematically) and would in nearly all instances apply to NON typical use consumption levels and behavior.
With these objective facts coupled to the scare tactic lies told to kids over the years about the more natural "drugs"... is there any wonder at the push back?
Teach truth and be consistent.
When we make the relatively benign X artificially expensive or difficult to obtain don't be surprised when interest shifts to the objectively riskier Y.
legalize natural state agricultural product
medicalize pharmaceutical product
Posted by: MrRational | December 17, 2009 1:48 PM
The teens are well informed. Tobacco kills more than TEN TIMES as many Americans on an annual basis as ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS COMBINED.
Posted by: Jonathan Freedlander | December 17, 2009 2:45 PM