News / Education
Drug Rehab Warns U.S. High School Seniors Now As Likely to Be Smoking Marijuana as Cigarettes
Cigarette Smoking Declines, Marijuana Use Remains Steady
High school seniors are as likely to smoke cigarettes in the past month as they are to use marijuana, according to the most recent data from the national Monitoring the Future survey.
“While it is commendable that cigarette smoking among high school seniors is on the decline,” comments Mary Rieser, Executive Director for Narconon Drug Rehab GA, “unfortunately marijuana use in high school has remained stable in the last ten years.
“This means that the message given to children that cigarettes are bad for you is working. It also means that they are not getting the same message about marijuana. Many people are under the assumption that marijuana smoke is ‘harmless,’ while many studies have shown that marijuana smoke has as many carcinogens as tobacco smoke, and leads to drug addiction.”
According to the study, in 2008, 20.4% of 12th graders reported smoking cigarettes in the past month, a substantial decline from the most recent high of 36.5% in 1997.
Marijuana use also had its most recent peak in 1997 (23.7%), but has declined at a slower rate, reaching 19.4% in 2008. This is the first time since the late 70s and early 80s that marijuana use has rivaled cigarette use among this population. Similar trends in cigarette and marijuana use have occurred among 8th and 10th graders.
“We need to educate students on the dangers of smoking, whether it be cigarettes or marijuana,” comments Ms. Reiser. “Unless the perception is changed, marijuana use will be prevalent in high schools.”
*Source: CESAR (Center for Substance Abuse Research) from the University of Maryland.
Call Narconon Drug Rehab in Georgia at 1-877-413-3073 .
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