New Monitoring the Future Survey Indicates Marijuana Use Is Increasing Among Teens
New Monitoring the Future Survey Indicates Marijuana Use Is Increasing Among Teens
Earlier this week, the National Institute on Drug Abuse released the results of the 2012 Monitoring the Future Survey. The report showed some disturbing trends about marijuana use among youth. According to this report, past-month marijuana use is up in 10th and 12th graders surveyed. The 2012 use rates indicated an upward trend in teens' abuse of marijuana, corresponding to downward trends in their perception of risk. For example, only 50 percent of high school 10th graders saw great risk in smoking marijuana regularly, compared to 55 percent last year.
“This report shows that marijuana use has increased among youth and that the attitudes about marijuana’s harmfulness has significantly decreased, which clearly demonstrates what we have known for years - when the perception of the harms of drugs decreases, use rises,” said Calvina Fay, Executive Director of Drug Free America Foundation and Save Our Society From Drugs. “Over the years, the ruse that marijuana is a medicine has created a false sense that this addictive, dangerous drug is not harmful, but in fact helpful. Now, this year, two states have legalized marijuana use for any purpose. Unless we aggressively pushback against all marijuana legalization efforts, I am very concerned this negative trend of increased marijuana use will continue! Perhaps it’s time to withhold federal funds from states that fail to uphold our nation’s drug laws,” Fay added.
“Research has shown that marijuana impairs adolescent brain development. Marijuana is also known to exacerbate mental illness which typically presents itself in late adolescence. This is especially concerning because of recent tragedies that have been linked to mental health instability. The results reported in this survey are very disturbing to me and in order to protect the future of our youth, it’s time for our government to increase drug prevention resources,” said Dr. Eric Voth, Chair of the Institute on Global Drug Policy.
