 While considering the negative effects of teen drug and alcohol abuse, it is very alarming to see the real statistics on the amount of teen drug and alcohol use in high schools and middle schools. Besides, many parents think that their children’s soft drugs and alcohol use is ok because it isn’t a harder drug as heroine, or crack. You should know that alcohol kills five times more teens than all other drugs combined, as a rule through accidents.
Statistics on Alcohol Use
- In 2005, approximately 10.8 million young people aged from 12 to 20 (it is 28.2% of this age group) reported drinking alcohol in the last month. About 7.2 million of them (it is 18.8%) were binge drinkers, and 2.3 million (it is 6.0%) were heavy drinkers.
- Three out of every four students (it is 75%) have consumed alcohol frequently b the end of high school.
- The rate of current alcohol use among young people aged from 12 to 17 decreased from 17.6% in 2004 to 16.5% in 2005. Teen binge drinking also decreased during that period, from 11.1% to 9.9%.
- In 2005, more teenage boys than girls aged from 12 to 20 reported current alcohol use (28.9% vs. 27.5%), binge drinking (21.3% vs. 16.1%), and heavy drinking (7.6% vs. 4.3%)
- Young people aged from 18 to 20 enrolled full-time in college were more likely than their coevals not enrolled full time to use alcohol in the last month, to binge drink, and to drink heavily.
- Approximately two fifth of students (it is 41%) have consumed alcohol by 8th grade.
- More than half (it is 58%) of 12th graders report having been drunk at least once in their life. One fifth (it is 20%) of 8th graders report having been drunk at least once in their life.
- Adults aged 21 and older who had first used alcohol before age 21 were more likely than adults who had their first drink at age 21 to be characterized as those with alcohol dependence or abuse (9.6% vs. 2.1%).
Statistics on Drug Use
In 2006 large study had been conducted among high school seniors. Yung people had to answer the only question: “On how many occasion, if any, have you used drugs during the last 12 months?”
Results of this study are the following:
- Marijuana – 31.5%
- Other opiates – 9.0%
- Stimulants – 8.1%
- Sedatives – 6.6%
- Tranquilizers – 6.6%
- Cocaine – 5.7%
- Hallucinogens – 4.9%
- Inhalants – 4.5%
- Steroids – 1.8%
- Heroin – 0.8%
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