Survey Hightlights Teen Substance Abuse Factors [08/20-1]
Excerpts from: Teen Substance Abuse Factors Highlighted
By JENNIFER C. KERR Newsday.com
[08/19/03]
A survey of American children and parents released Tuesday found a mix of three
ingredients in abundance for many kids can lead to substance abuse: boredom,
stress and extra money.
The annual study by Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and
Substance Abuse also found students attending smaller schools or religious schools
are less likely to abuse drugs and alcohol
The study found that children ages 12 to 17 who are frequently bored are 50 percent
more likely to smoke, drink, get drunk or use illegal drugs. And kids with $25
or more a week in spending money are nearly twice as likely to smoke, drink or
use drugs as children with less money.
Anxiety is another risk factor. The study found that youngsters who said they're
highly stressed are twice as likely as low-stress kids to smoke, drink or use
drugs.
But Marijuana Policy Project spokesman Bruce Mirken said the study offered nothing
new and doesn't address the real problems, such as what he called the "failed
policy" of marijuana prohibition.
Among the study's other findings:
* The average age of first use of alcohol is about 12, while cigarettes is
12 1/2 and marijuana is almost 14
* Kids at schools with more than 1,200 students are twice as likely as those attending
schools with fewer than 800 students to be at high risk for substance abuse.
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