| European Study of
Teen Drug Use |
by Susan
Hubenthal
The European
School Survey Project on Alcohol
and Other Drugs (ESPAD) released
their findings, last February,
at a meeting of the World
Health Organization in Stockholm.
The study conducted questions
to 110,000 teens from both
counties. When comparing drug
use between European and American
teenagers, it found that American
teens have a higher percentage
of illegal drug use than do
the European teens.
The Netherlands has a liberal
drug policy and marijuana
is legal, ironically teen
use of marijuana is much lower
than the U.S. The survey found
28% of Dutch teens smoked
marijuana as compared to 41%
of American teens, and 23%
of American teens had experimented
with other drugs, compared
to only 6% of European teens.
Cigarettes and alcohol use
is higher in Europe. 37% of
European teens have smoked
cigarettes in the past month
as compare to only 26% of
Americans. 61% of European
teens consumed alcohol as
compared to 40% of American
kids.
The study found that teenage
drug use is rising. British
drug laws are among the very
strict, but British kids are
Europe’s biggest drug
abusers, with 36% having smoked
marijuana, which is more than
the Netherlands, with their
relaxed drug laws.
The question is why? Where
the drug war has been waged
the most, is the place where
teen drug use is now the most
rampant. Where the drug war
is more relaxed, teen drug
use is lower.
On one hand, the belief is
that drug laws do not seem
to play an important role
one way or another, and the
drug policies are irrelevant.
It may, as some feel, be a
waste of time to even develop
a drug policy of any kind.
The other theory is, perhaps,
that we give too much credence
to laws, that they aren’t
a method of controlling behavior.
Current policies may be having
a paradoxical effect on teen
drug use. What is forbidden,
may be more enticing, and
more exciting to a teenager.
Prohibition of drugs hasn’t
suppressed drug use in kids.
Relying on drug laws may give
parents a false sense of security,
that it is the government’s
responsibility, so some parents
may become less interested,
less involved.
Whatever the reason, teens
continue to use illicit drugs,
and they continue to die.
The current drug laws have
had little effect on luring
our kids away from drugs.
Just say No was a huge failure
and DARE hasn’t worked.
The DARE Program claims to
be revising its curriculum,
lets hope it proves effective,
if not, get rid of it and
use the money for new research
on drug addiction, more mentoring
and after school programs,
and for effective treatment
for addiction. No other parent
should have to suffer the
throes of a child’s
addiction because of useless
drug laws, lack of effective
drug treatment, lack of insurance
coverage, and societies lack
of concern.
When comparing drug use between
European and American teenagers,
it found that American teens
have a higher percentage of
illegal drug use than do the
European teens.
The Netherlands has a liberal
drug policy and marijuana
is legal, ironically teen
use of marijuana is much lower
than the U.S. The survey found
28% of Dutch teens smoked
marijuana as compared to 41%
of American teens, and 23%
of American teens had experimented
with other drugs, compared
to only 6% of European teens.
Cigarettes and alcohol use
is higher in Europe. 37% of
European teens have smoked
cigarettes in the past month
as compare to only 26% of
Americans. 61% of European
teens consumed alcohol as
compared to 40% of American
kids.
The study found that teenage
drug use is rising. British
drug laws are among the very
strict, but British kids are
Europe’s biggest drug
abusers, with 36% having smoked
marijuana, which is more than
the Netherlands, with their
relaxed drug laws.
The question is why? Where
the drug war has been waged
the most, is the place where
teen drug use is now the most
rampant. Where the drug war
is more relaxed, teen drug
use is lower.
On one hand, the belief is
that drug laws do not seem
to play an important role
one way or another, and the
drug policies are irrelevant.
It may, as some feel, be a
waste of time to even develop
a drug policy of any kind.
The other theory is, perhaps,
that we give too much credence
to laws, that they aren’t
a method of behavior. Current
policies may be having a paradoxical
effect on teen drug use. What
is forbidden, may be more
enticing, and more exciting
to a teenager. Prohibition
of drugs hasn’t suppressed
drug use in kids. Relying
on drug laws may give parents
a false sense of security,
that it is the government’s
responsibility, so some parents
may become less interested,
less involved.
Whatever the reason, teens
continue to use illicit drugs,
and they continue to die.
The current drug laws have
had little effect on luring
our kids away from drugs.
Just say No was a huge failure
and DARE hasn’t worked.
DARE claims to be revising
its curriculum, lets hope
it proves effective, if not,
get rid of it and use the
money for new research on
drug addiction, more mentoring
and after school programs,
and for effective treatment
for addiction. No other parent
should have to suffer the
throes of a child’s
addiction because of useless
drug laws, lack of effective
drug treatment, lack of insurance
coverage, and societies lack
of concern
|
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Learning |
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