Teens and drugs by the numbers
Wish you knew what to worry about? We've sifted through the scary stats to get the lowdown on trends in youth drug abuse. Here's what you need to know to help your child.
By Lauren Shanley
The spread of marijuana
1 in 5 — High school seniors have used marijuana in the past month.
Behind alcohol, marijuana use has recently replaced cigarette smoking as the drug most used among young people. What’s more, fewer high schoolers perceive smoking marijuana as having harmful effects on their health, though researchers report that marijuana carries more risks to growing brains. Compared to 25 years ago, the levels of the psychoactive ingredient (THC) in marijuana have doubled. THC's adverse effects include suppressing cells that are important in learning and memory. Almost half of those who reported current marijuana use said their grades were mostly Ds or Fs, and about one in 16 high school seniors uses marijuana daily.
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