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+--- Thread: Is pervasive teen drug use finally ending? (/Thread-Is-pervasive-teen-drug-use-finally-ending)
Is pervasive teen drug use finally ending? - Maxmars - 12-18-2024
I ran across this article, and thought it might do well to share it here, for any interested...
From ArsTechnica: “Unprecedented” decline in teen drug use continues, surprising experts
Subtitled: Kids who were in 8th grade at pandemic's start have ushered in an era of abstaining.
The narrative supplied us that as the "Covid event" manifested itself on society, many young teens were expected to 'fall off' the 'user roles' as they became further distanced from suppliers. But, instead of resurging as time went on, and daily life resumed it's flow... even more teens have begun to distance themselves from the 'drug use' life-style choice.
Teen drug use continued to fall in 2024, extending a dramatic decline spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic that experts expected would reverse now that the acute phase of the global crisis is well over.
But, according to data released Tuesday, the number of eighth, 10th, and 12th graders who collectively abstained from the use of alcohol, marijuana, or nicotine hit a new high this year. Use of illicit drugs also fell on the whole and use of non-heroin narcotics (Vicodin, OxyContin, Percocet) hit an all-time low.
...
"As it turns out, the declines have not only lasted but have dropped further."
And a bit further on, a spokesperson for the federal government proposed that "We must continue to investigate factors that have contributed to this lowered risk of substance use to tailor interventions to support the continuation of this trend."
As if they had anything to do with it at all.
Frankly it doesn't surprise me that we have a new perspective about the use of illegal substances...
most people were removed from the primary venue through which they can be introduced... SCHOOL.
Politicians and talking heads had made a fine attempt at convincing everyone that "making it illegal" was the solution to the substance abuse problem... but in the end, all it takes is keeping the traffic out of the faces of the youth... where it is mostly the first place these kids actually make the 'connections' to get drugs...
Heh... a "COVID school-shutdown" silver lining?
Ouch... that'd be a bitter pill to swallow for some!
RE: Is pervasive teen drug use finally ending? - sahgwa - 12-18-2024
I don't think it's just availability of substances that is driving this downward trend in teen drug and alcohol use, it's in a lot of cases truly a more healthy mindset.
The kids in their teens and twenties see people in my age group (40's) and older , many of whom had drug or alcohol problems, whether it be their parents or their relatives, as well as older celebrities, and I think rather than seeing a more 'glamourous' side of it, they get more access to raw information and experience on how it messed up these older people's lives, and they want no part in it.
I think a lot of the 'it won't happen to me' attitude is missing, in place of that there seems to be a more positive outlook.
So that is one thing you can maybe thank social media for, as it exposes more negativity? Just riffing here.
RE: Is pervasive teen drug use finally ending? - Sirius - 12-19-2024
I have had the same conversation with other Dads on this also. The kids are taking it easy, not going out late and driving drunk etc. so there might be something to it.
But then my son grew up, smokes weed from early morning and comes home drunk from work. Don't let me get started on his mates.
It's a demographic thing, lower middle class is still lower and middle class. Remind me again what the people at the top is into?
RE: Is pervasive teen drug use finally ending? - Karl12 - 12-19-2024
The thread's about dangerous drug use by teens so thought this short vid was relevant for any parents out there.
link
RE: Is pervasive teen drug use finally ending? - Maxmars - 12-19-2024
As it turns out, this drop in teen use must have facilitated the newest way to find substances to abuse.
From ArsTechnica: Who needs the dark web? Drug sales flourish on social media
RE: Is pervasive teen drug use finally ending? - quintessentone - 12-20-2024
I am wondering if this decline has anything to do with better access to mental health treatment?
Addictions by generation:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/addiction-statistics/by-generation
