Survey: Teen drug use, smoking up slightly

CNN ^ | Thursday, September 4, 2003 | AP

[the_devils_advocate_666]

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Illegal drug use and cigarette smoking among sixth- through 12th-graders increased slightly during the last school year compared with the year before, says a new survey. Alcohol use remained at the same level during both years.

Nearly one-fourth, or 24 percent, of these teenagers reported using illegal drugs -- marijuana, cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens and others -- at least once in the 2002-2003 school year, compared with 22 percent the year before, according to the private study by Pride Surveys.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

The "War" continues to be a huge success!

[MrLeRoy]

"If our schools and parents were to utilize recognized, successful intervention techniques, including drug testing, we would be able to identify these youth and get them the counseling and treatment they need to turn away from drug use," Walters said in a statement.

If oiur government were to relegalize drugs for adults, we would give sellers a new economic incentive to not sell to kids---namely, the risk of losing their legal adult business.

[StatesEnemy]

I guess when ya jack the price high enough, it becomes a status symbol - bling in the bastardized vernacular.

[jmc813]

WOD Ping

[Monty22]

Yeah, that's why legal alcohol rates for teens are so low.

Give me a break.

[the_devils_advocate_666]

"If our schools and parents were to utilize recognized, successful intervention techniques, including drug testing, we would be able to identify these youth and get them the counseling and treatment they need to turn away from drug use," Walters said in a statement.

Starts to sound like shades of racial profiling, if you ask me...

[ellery]

Survey officials gave credit to adults, saying they had been more active in keeping drugs, alcohol and cigarettes away from children.

What? You mean it's good parenting, not government prohibition, that makes a difference??!!

[headsonpikes]

John Walters is truly a loving Czar, a Shepherd to his people.

That would be you guys. Can you feel your pride rising? ;^)

[bassmaner]

Ask any teen whether it's easier to get weed or beer. Hint: you can't buy it in a bar when you turn 21.

Give me a break - if you really want to "protect the chillrun", then legalize it already.

[Monty22]

Cause weed is easier to conceal and transport than a 6pack, that's why.

[MrLeRoy]

that's why legal alcohol rates for teens are so low.

Alcohol is used not quite twice as often as pot among 6th-to-12th graders; among adults the ratio is about 10 to 1. The legal drug is proportionately less used by kids than the illegal drug.

[MrLeRoy]

weed is easier to conceal and transport than a 6pack

But not much more easily than a pint bottle of liquor.

[ellery]

Cause weed is easier to conceal and transport than a 6pack, that's why.

Very true -- this is an important point. There's evidence to support that prohibition is linked to people moving to harder, more concentrated drugs for this very reason...grain alcohol is easier to conceal and transport than the many gallons of beer it would take to equal the same volume of alcohol; crack is easier to conceal and transport than bales of pot, etc, etc. Unintended consequences strike again.

[Monty22]

Well the demand for harder drugs is usually higher once exposed to it, that's just nature. The more pleasure the more demand.

It's also why if you legalize weed, you better be prepared to legalize it all and do the final flush on society.

[Monty22]

Well the demand for harder drugs is usually higher once exposed to it, that's just nature. The more pleasure the more demand.

It's also why if you legalize weed, you better be prepared to legalize it all and do the final flush on society.

[vin-one]

I have and the answer is always the same, WEED

in fact I went to break up a party at one of my daughters friends houses
when the parents were out of town, many kids walking up with beer,
but even more outside lighting up bowls
the proof is out there, and the WOD'ers refuse to listen

[Monty22]

Sorry you are the parent of a drug user. However, you're kidding yourself badly if you think legalizing will mean less kids will use.

[MrLeRoy]

Well the demand for harder drugs is usually higher once exposed to it

Once exposed to what?

if you legalize weed, you better be prepared to legalize it all

You're not saying marijuana is a hard drug, are you? By any objective measure it's less hard than the deadly addictive legal drug alcohol.

[MrLeRoy]

you're kidding yourself badly if you think legalizing will mean less kids will use.

Alcohol is used not quite twice as often as pot among 6th-to-12th graders; among adults the ratio is about 10 to 1. The legal drug is proportionately less used by kids than the illegal drug.

[Monty22]

Yes, because of easier transfer, higher concentration, and preference cause of stronger effects.