A survey called “Monitoring the Future” found that teens are using cigarettes and alcohol at historically low levels. But what should be seen as a victory is dampened by the news that teen drug use has increased with regard to marijuana and synthetic drug use.
The survey, which polled 46,773 students from 400 public and private schools, found that 18.7 percent of high school seniors reported smoking cigarettes in the past month, compared with 21.6 percent five years ago. And only 6.1 percent of eighth-graders reported current cigarette use, compared with 8.7 percent five years ago.
But advocates are not entirely thrilled with the rate of decline.
“That cigarette use has declined to historically low rates is welcome news, given our concerns that declines may have slowed or stalled in recent years,” said National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora D. Volkow. “That said, the teen smoking rate is declining much more slowly than in years past, and we are seeing teens consume other tobacco products at high levels. This highlights the urgency of maintaining strong prevention efforts against teen smoking and of targeting other tobacco products.”
Added Howard K. Koh, assistant secretary for health for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “While it is good news that cigarette use has declined to historically low rates, we can and must do more to accelerate that decline. The actual decline is relatively small compared to the sharp declines we witnessed in the late 90s.”
In terms of alcohol usage, 63.5 percent of high school seniors reported use this year, which has decreased from the peak of 74.8 percent in 1997. Eighth-graders have also cut down their alcohol use with a reported 26.9 percent in 2011, compared with a recent peak rate of 46.8 percent in 1994. The report also showed a five-year decrease in binge drinking, which was defined as “five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks,” across all three grades.
But unfortunately, with the decreased rates of alcohol and cigarette use came increased drug use. Marijuana usage among high school seniors increased to 36.4 percent from 31.5 percent five years ago; daily use increased from 5 percent to 6.6 percent. This rise in usage correlates with the fact that teens are increasingly seeing marijuana as less of a risk. According to the report, 22.7 percent of high school seniors saw great risk in smoking marijuana occasionally, whereas five years ago, that number was 25.9. Eighth graders are seeing marijuana as less of a risk as well, with 43.4 percent reporting that they saw great risk in smoking marijuana occasionally, compared with 48.9 percent five years ago. The report also surveyed students about whether or not they used synthetic marijuana, also known as K2 or spice, and found that 11.4 percent of seniors reported using the drugs in the past year.
“K2 and spice are dangerous drugs that can cause serious harm,” said Gil Kerlikowske, director of National Drug Control Policy. “We will continue to work with the public health and safety community to respond to this emerging threat, but in the meantime, parents must take action. Parents are the most powerful force in the lives of young people and we ask that all of them talk to their teens today about the serious consequences of using marijuana, K2 or spice.”
Source: NIDA
Heather Rudow is a staff writer for Counseling Today. Email her at hrudow@counseling.org.