I am just fortunate that I am not a boomer and don't have to carry that weight around my shoulders.
Posted on 09/07/2006 9:03:19 AM PDT by Incorrigible
By KEVIN FREKING,
Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Some moms and dads might want to take a lesson from their kids: Just say no. The government reported Thursday that 4.4 percent of baby boomers ages 50 to 59 indicated that they had used illicit drugs in the past month. It marks the third consecutive yearly increase recorded for that age group by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Meanwhile, illicit drug use among young teens went down for the third consecutive year — from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.9 percent in 2005.
"Rarely have we seen a story like this where this is such an obvious contrast as one generation goes off stage right, and entering stage left is a generation that learned a lesson somehow and they're doing something very different," said David Murray, special assistant to the director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
The annual survey on drug use and health involves interviews of about 67,500 people. It provides an important snapshot of how many Americans drink, smoke and use drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.
Overall, drug use remained relatively unchanged among Americans age 12 and older in 2005. About 19.7 million Americans reported they had used an illicit drug in the past month, which represented a rise from 7.9 percent to 8.1 percent. The increase was not only due to the boomers, but an increase was also seen among those 18-25, the age category that always ranks highest when it comes to illicit drug use.
Among the 18-25 group, drug use rose from 19.4 percent to 20.1 percent. Federal officials commenting on the report emphasized the drop in use among younger teens without citing the increase in the next older age group.
"The news today is there is a fundamental shift in drug use among young people in America," Assistant Surgeon General Eric B. Broderick said in a statement.
Murray called the 18-25 group the gauntlet through which everybody runs. He said the peak of drug use among youth in the United States occurred in the late 1970s.
"And they brought it with them like baggage when they hit 50 and 60," Murray said.
Drug use by baby boomers increased from 2.7 percent in 2002 to 4.4 percent last year. Marijuana was by far their drug of choice, Murray said.
That's true overall. There were 14.6 million people who reported using marijuana in the past month, about 2.4 million cocaine users and 6.4 million people who used prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes, such as pain relievers, tranquilizers or sedatives. In 60 percent of those cases, the drugs came from a relative or friend for free. Only 4.3 percent reported buying the drug from a drug dealer or other stranger.
While drug use went up slightly in '05, so did alcohol use. Slightly more than half of Americans age 12 and older reported being current drinkers of alcohol. That translates to 126 million people, up from 121 million people the year before.
Officials noted that alcohol use among those 12-17 did decline from 17.6 percent to 16.5 percent.
The percentage of Americans who acknowledged driving drunk at least once in the past year also dropped slightly in 2005 — from 13.5 percent to 13 percent.
Meanwhile, tobacco use held steady at about 29.4 percent, even though among youths 12-17, tobacco use did drop from 14.4 percent to 13.1 percent.
____
On the Net:
Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
Anybody want a hit?
Maybe when you grow up you will.
The nations comptroller is full on nonsensical drivel? Well, I guess you are free to believe that. I hope the boomers don't leave us in worse fiscal shape than when they took charge. But their history would dictate that that is exactly what they will do.
God bless you.
You are one of the great ones.
And you are a conservative.
After they get through, they can return to saving humanity from the "60 something" hippies.
Nice, Decent People. Nurse. RN. Dad owns a construction outfit. White bread Camarillo, California. Money. Good school. Clothes. Advantages. Loving parents/family. Siblings.
But your self indulgent history would dictate that you won't take it.
I hope you are in charge soon, while you still know everything.
Please know that we realize it....we just hope to leave our children a better America than when we do eventually get it. However, I guess that won't be too hard after the Baby boomers get done with it.
OK everyone, I apologize to all
The Baby Boomer generation has been great and this country has moved steadily in the right direction with them as steward.
We could never do worse than the Boomers....never. The X'ers are the first generation to grow up with divorce, abortion, no school prayer, the list goes on and on.....maybe you boomers can turn it around but time is not on your side.
Than what we inherited...when we do eventually get it.
Now, run along and play "pick up the pieces".
Only a boomer would mock a generation that is trying to put the pieces of the family back together. Typical. I am just fortunate that I am not a boomer and don't have to carry that weight around my shoulders.
Accepted
The Baby Boomer generation has been great and this country has moved steadily in the right direction with them as steward.
Don't make a different mistake to replace the one you just corrected.
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Like what? Abortion 'rights'? The welfare debacle? The immigration mess? The lessening of cultural values via Hollywood? Those things?
Can't be because you know of course that all of these are highlights of the 'greatest generation' years in control.
I am just fortunate that I am not a boomer and don't have to carry that weight around my shoulders.
The baby boomers, for the most part, had stable, loving homes. Gen-X'ers can't say the same. The baby boomers may have screwed things up so bad that there is no fixing it, time will tell.
Now don't you have free medicine to take that the Gen-X'ers are paying for? or free MediCare or something free?
you're right
I just wish our country had the will and resolve to confront evil and endure tough times like they did.
yes, they were maybe America's worst parents
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