Pot-smoking among teens down in many countries

[peejay 327]

Pot-smoking among teens down in many countries

By LINDSEY TANNER Associated Press

Feb. 2, 2009, 3:45PM

CHICAGO — Kids on both sides of the Atlantic are smoking less pot and going out less often with friends at night, a study of 15-year-olds in 30 countries found.

The double declines occurred in the United States, Canada and mostly European countries from 2002 to 2006. The trends are likely related, since other research has found that kids who spend many evenings out are more likely to smoke dope than homebodies.

Since few parents approve of marijuana use, teens are most likely to use the drug secretly away from home, said lead author Emmanuel Kuntsche of the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems.

Reasons for the declines are unclear. But the researchers said drug prevention efforts and technology may have contributed.

Instant messaging, e-mail and cell phones “may have partly replaced face-to-face contacts, leading to fewer social contacts in the evenings,” Kuntsche said.

The study appears in February’s Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, released today.

The researchers analyzed data on 93,297 15-year-olds from periodic health surveys in dozens of countries conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

Survey questionnaires were distributed to entire classrooms at various schools, asking various health-related questions including about marijuana use and evenings out with friends in the past year. Responses to 2006 surveys were compared with those in 2002.

Users were kids who’d tried marijuana at least once in the past year.

Marijuana use increased only in Estonia, Lithuania and Malta, and among Russian girls.

While rates varied widely among countries, prevalence was highest both years in Canada, where 30 percent of boys and almost 28 percent of girls used marijuana in 2006. That was down 13 percent among boys and almost 10 percent among girls.

The United States ranked third in 2006, with 24 percent of boys and girls each reporting marijuana use. That was down almost 12 percent among boys and 2 percent among girls, echoing previous reports of declining pot use among U.S. teens.

Switzerland ranked second in prevalence among boys, and Wales was second among girls. Greece, Macedonia and Sweden were at the bottom of the list — with fewer than 5 percent of boys and girls reporting marijuana use in 2006.

Average number of evenings out also decreased in most countries. In the United States, nights out fell slightly to about twice a week in 2006 for boys and girls.

An Archives editorial said that while evenings out may increase chances for marijuana use, parents shouldn’t discourage socializing since teens need time away from home to gain independence. Instead, the editorial advises, parents should help steer kids to activities that don’t encourage drug use.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6242801.html

[Otto 83]

Sign of the economic times...

[Peikko 1,575]

Pot-smoking among teens down in many countries

By LINDSEY TANNER Associated Press

Feb. 2, 2009, 3:45PM

CHICAGO — Kids on both sides of the Atlantic are smoking less pot and going out less often with friends at night, a study of 15-year-olds in 30 countries found.

The double declines occurred in the United States, Canada and mostly European countries from 2002 to 2006. The trends are likely related, since other research has found that kids who spend many evenings out are more likely to smoke dope than homebodies.

Since few parents approve of marijuana use, teens are most likely to use the drug secretly away from home, said lead author Emmanuel Kuntsche of the Swiss Institute for the Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Problems.

Reasons for the declines are unclear. But the researchers said drug prevention efforts and technology may have contributed.

Instant messaging, e-mail and cell phones "may have partly replaced face-to-face contacts, leading to fewer social contacts in the evenings," Kuntsche said.

The study appears in February's Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, released today.

The researchers analyzed data on 93,297 15-year-olds from periodic health surveys in dozens of countries conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization.

Survey questionnaires were distributed to entire classrooms at various schools, asking various health-related questions including about marijuana use and evenings out with friends in the past year. Responses to 2006 surveys were compared with those in 2002.

Users were kids who'd tried marijuana at least once in the past year.

Marijuana use increased only in Estonia, Lithuania and Malta, and among Russian girls.

While rates varied widely among countries, prevalence was highest both years in Canada, where 30 percent of boys and almost 28 percent of girls used marijuana in 2006. That was down 13 percent among boys and almost 10 percent among girls.

The United States ranked third in 2006, with 24 percent of boys and girls each reporting marijuana use. That was down almost 12 percent among boys and 2 percent among girls, echoing previous reports of declining pot use among U.S. teens.

Switzerland ranked second in prevalence among boys, and Wales was second among girls. Greece, Macedonia and Sweden were at the bottom of the list — with fewer than 5 percent of boys and girls reporting marijuana use in 2006.

Average number of evenings out also decreased in most countries. In the United States, nights out fell slightly to about twice a week in 2006 for boys and girls.

An Archives editorial said that while evenings out may increase chances for marijuana use, parents shouldn't discourage socializing since teens need time away from home to gain independence. Instead, the editorial advises, parents should help steer kids to activities that don't encourage drug use.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6242801.html

What parent would steer their kids into activities that do encourage drug use? What activities do encourage drug use? Snow boarding? Skateboarding? SWIMMING? Weirder and weirder, but good news re less reported use of marijuana etc amongst young teens.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

What parent would steer their kids into activities that do encourage drug use? What activities do encourage drug use? Snow boarding? Skateboarding? SWIMMING? Weirder and weirder, but good news re less reported use of marijuana etc amongst young teens.

plenty of parents smoke with their teenage kids.

[peejay 327]

Marijuana use increased only in Estonia, Lithuania and Malta, and among Russian girls.

Oh, my! Little known fact:

After Nikita Krushchev was ousted as First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union he lived in exile at his dacha and smoked marijuana. On my many travels to Belarus I have seen dope growing in the rural villages. The Russian peasants love their samogon and weed.

Edited February 2, 2009 by peejay

[Peikko 1,575]

What parent would steer their kids into activities that do encourage drug use? What activities do encourage drug use? Snow boarding? Skateboarding? SWIMMING? Weirder and weirder, but good news re less reported use of marijuana etc amongst young teens.

plenty of parents smoke with their teenage kids.

I don't know about that, but that's just hanging around smoking, that's not another activity, the engagement of which encourages drug use. Perhaps listening to pop records is a hazardous activity, for example? We now know swimming is, I mean, look at Mr Phelps

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Listening to Puff the Magic Dragon on CD.

[Peikko 1,575]

Listening to Puff the Magic Dragon on CD.

Well, yes, but is it still on general release? I haven't heard it for 30+ years!

[alienlovechild 75]

The United States ranked third in 2006, with 24 percent of boys and girls each reporting marijuana use. That was down almost 12 percent among boys and 2 percent among girls, echoing previous reports of declining pot use among U.S. teens.

Who was number one?

I remember that one time highest reported use for American high school seniors was in 1979. I wonder how that compares to today's kids.

[Jasman0717 9]

Sign of the economic times...

No one can afford it

[peejay 327]

Listening to Puff the Magic Dragon on CD.

Well, yes, but is it still on general release? I haven't heard it for 30+ years!

There is not much American music that cannot be downloaded on MP3 from somewhere. Not that "Puff the Magic Dragon" should be. That would be bandwidth abuse.

Sign of the economic times...

No one can afford it

I had a punk tell me the going price for weed in Houston in 2009 and I almost had a seizure. No thanks. It ain't worth it. When I was a teenager growing up in Houston decent weed could be had for $80 to $100 a pound and $10 an ounce. That was in the 1970's. In 1970's $$$ that wasn't a lot for that much herb.

I never understood the attraction to weed other than the hipness and forbidden fruit aspect of it for the rebel without a clue youth trying to look hip. But that is just my assessment.

There is a time and a place for everything. Most of the chronic pot smokers I grew up around ended up being losers. Nothing wrong with coping a buzz occassionally, but most hard core dopers and drunkards are losers.