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Older Americans Drug Use Higher Than Youths
Armando Duke | AXcessNews.com | September 10, 2006

(AXcess News) Houston, TX - According to the government's latest survey, older Americans illegal drug use is higher than youths.

The survey showed that baby boomers aged 50 to 59 illegal drug use has risen for the third year in a row and now 4.4 percent say they've used illicit drugs during the last month.

But adults could also take a lesson from teens, according to the 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health that says that current illicit drug use among youth ages 12-17 continues to decline. In 2002, 11.6 percent of youths used illicit drugs compared to 9.9 percent in 2005.

Similarly, the rate of current marijuana use among youth ages 12 to 17 declined significantly from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.8 percent in 2005, and the average age of first use of marijuana increased from under age 17 in 2003 to 17.4 years in 2005. Furthermore, drinking among teens declined, with 16.5 percent of youth ages 12-17 reporting current alcohol use and 9.9 percent reporting binge drinking. This compares with 17.6 percent of this age group reporting drinking in 2004 and 11.1 percent reporting binge drinking in the past month in 2004. These declines in alcohol use by youth, ages 12-17, follow years of relatively unchanged rates.

The baby boomer generation presents a different story. Among adults aged 50 to 59, the rate of current illicit drug use increased from 2.7 percent to 4.4 percent between 2002 and 2005, reflecting the aging into this age group - the baby boom cohort.

"The trends among young people are encouraging," said Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt. "We know prevention activities must start with our children. There is more to be done and we must build on our work to ensure that children and their parents understand that they must live free of drugs and alcohol to be healthy."

"Something important is happening with American teens," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "They are getting the message that using drugs limits their futures, and they are turning away from the destructive patterns and cruelly-misinformed perceptions about substance abuse that have so damaged previous generations."

 

vladimir

thank god he's out there spreading the "truth" about drug use and arresting otherwise harmless citizens, "limiting their futures."

__________________
If a drug (or technique or process) were ever to be discovered which would consistently produce a plus four experience in all human beings, it is conceivable that it would signal the ultimate evolution, and perhaps the end of, the human experiment.

Buzzby

I doubt that 12-17-year-olds have the same level of chronic aches and pains suffered by 50-59-year-olds. Cannabis does wonders for the minor arthritis that so many of my baby boomer cohort suffer as we are dragged, kicking and screaming, into our senior years.

The people who smoked in their teens and 20s know that the Reefer Madness™scare tactics are bullshit and the truth about the medical benefits of marijuana is becoming common knowledge. As a group, we're becoming more health conscious. Part of that is recognizing that alcohol is not good for you. When you're in your 50s you don't recover from a night of drinking the way you did in your 20s. After a night of smoking you have your morning coffee and you're good-to-go.

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reggie_the_dog

ok 4.4% of 50 to 59 year olds used an illegal drug in the last month,
what percentage of youth used an illegal drug in the last month, it says that 9.9% of youths 12 to 17 used drugs, if this is monthly use this represents a higher rate of drug use than old people. In fact they state that "Similarly, the rate of current marijuana use among youth ages 12 to 17 declined significantly from 8.2 percent in 2002 to 6.8 percent in 2005, and the average age of first use of marijuana increased from under age 17 in 2003 to 17.4 years in 2005."

This means that 6.8% of 12 to 17 year olds use cannabis alone, not to mention all the other illicit drugs that make up the 4.4% total in the 50 to 59 category.

Which means that it is utter bullshit when the guy says, ""Something important is happening with American teens," said John P. Walters, Director of National Drug Control Policy. "They are getting the message that using drugs limits their futures, and they are turning away from the destructive patterns and cruelly-misinformed perceptions about substance abuse that have so damaged previous generations.""

Well John, if they got the message why do 12 to 17 year olds still use drugs at a higher rate than 50 to 59 year olds?

Do you notice that 4.4% of people 50 to 59 use all illegal drugs combined for their age group.

16.5% of 12 to 17 year olds admitt drinking
9.9% binge drink, this is 26.4% using ILLEGAL ALCOHOL alone, they are not 21 it is illegal.

The article does not even discuss the rate at which youth use hard drugs or misuse prescription drugs (making it illicit use which is counted in teh 50 to 59 age ragne). THE YOUNG SEEM TO USE LOTS MORE ILLEGAL DRUGS THAN THEIR OLDER COUNTERPARTS.

1tokeovertheline

Also more people (in my area at least) are retiring at age 55 with 30 years service and don't have to submit to random drug testing anymore. Three more years for me, I hope.