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Drug Use Booming Among Baby Boomers
SF Weekly ^ | Fri., Sep. 6 2013 | Chris Roberts

Posted on 09/08/2013 11:59:07 AM PDT by nickcarraway

The old folks are showing the kids these days how it's done. That is, people over 50 are turning to drugs more so than their kids and grandkids.

Drug use among people aged 50 to 64 has "doubled" over the past decade, according to the U.S. government.

Of the 23.9 million Americans who are current drug users, 7.2 percent of people between 50 and 64 years old reported using illicit drugs -- which is still less than the nearly 10 percent of "children and teenagers" who use illegal drugs, according to an annual survey of drug use.

The most-popular drug is, of course: good old marijuana, with almost 19 million American tokers from sea to shining sea.

For people aged 55 to 59, use of illegal drugs has "tripled," according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national survey, which is conducted by the Department of Health and Human Services.

The release of the report is timed with "National Recovery Month," which is to say that the drug use above isn't considered recreational -- it's considered trouble.

Researchers point out, as they are wont to do, the negative effects marijuana use has on a developing brain. The gateway drug theory was also on display.

At a press conference to unveil the survey's results, two recovering addicts recounted tales of moving from marijuana onto heroin or pills.

"In 1997, at age 12, [28-year old Daniel LaPointe] won a contest for writing an essay titled "Why I Won't Try Drugs." A month later, suffering from insecurities and depression, he started smoking marijuana, which ultimately led him to heroin and, as he put it, "the funerals of five good friends." Tough stuff. But the silver lining is that despite 9.2 percent of Americans being users of illegal drugs, only about 9 million people nationwide use illegal drugs other than cannabis, the survey showed.

Next to marijuana, the most-abused drugs are prescription pills. About 7 million people reported using these drugs in an "illicit" fashion -- which means everyone else on them has a prescription. Which is... good?

Read the study for yourself here.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News
KEYWORDS: abortion; addiction; boomers; deathpanels; drugaddiction; drugs; druguse; globalwarminghoax; libertarians; marijuana; medicalmarijuana; obamacare; stuckonstupid; zerocare
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1 posted on 09/08/2013 11:59:07 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Stupid Hippies.


2 posted on 09/08/2013 12:00:05 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: nickcarraway

They are celebrating how they have screwed all the other generations.


3 posted on 09/08/2013 12:03:35 PM PDT by Jonty30 (What Islam and secularism have in common is that they are both death cults)
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To: nickcarraway

If alcohol was included, that stat would be 99% of we ‘oldsters’ abusing it...since we’ve lived through Carter and Clinton, and see the writing on the wall!


4 posted on 09/08/2013 12:04:14 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: nickcarraway

I’ve got a 58 year old brother who still smokes that left handed tobacco. Unsurprisingly, he’s a Progressive Obot too.


5 posted on 09/08/2013 12:05:09 PM PDT by Windflier (To anger a conservative, tell him a lie. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth.)
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To: nickcarraway

A drugged-out, dopehead nation.

Which elects Obama for its leader.

Fitting.


6 posted on 09/08/2013 12:05:39 PM PDT by greene66
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To: nickcarraway
Stupid article.

If you don't count alcohol along with those "druuuugs" its a pointless discussion.

7 posted on 09/08/2013 12:05:49 PM PDT by corkoman
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To: nickcarraway

And I think 1/2 of them are driving on the CA freeways.


8 posted on 09/08/2013 12:07:35 PM PDT by Signalman
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To: greene66

Yep....we have Pee Wee Herman for President. The people who voted for him think that chairs talk.


9 posted on 09/08/2013 12:08:49 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Everyone’s heard of “The Villages”..the big retirement community in central Florida...Palin did a huge rally there in 2008. Turns out it’s also well know for another reason. Florida Health Dept stats show that for the 7th straight year, it leads the state in reported incidents of STDs...yup...the boomers are still self-indulgent..


10 posted on 09/08/2013 12:11:38 PM PDT by ken5050 (According to Dick Lugar, I'm a "random outlier." Woo Hoo!!!!)
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To: nickcarraway

11 posted on 09/08/2013 12:14:13 PM PDT by South40
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To: ken5050

Yikes! I have an Aunt & Uncle that live there now; can’t WAIT to tell my Mom, LOL!


12 posted on 09/08/2013 12:21:26 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
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To: nickcarraway

This is a symptom.

This is not the disease.

The disease is Godlessness, with capital G to emphasize what it means. It is not even small-g “godless” immorality which is a consequence, not a prime cause.

What the doctor ordered to kick this desperate sin habit? Nope, not lots more human regulation. It’s the GOSPEL.


13 posted on 09/08/2013 12:21:27 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (The Lion of Judah will roar again if you give him a big hug and a cheer and mean it. See my page.)
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To: nickcarraway

my kids had some stoner teachers at the public school

and there were some stoner parents

dumb idiots


14 posted on 09/08/2013 12:23:05 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: nickcarraway

Don’t smoke anything just never liked it but I certainly drink..a lot.

I’m generally critical of most the thing us boomers have done..

But I must admit we had a lot more fun along the way than all the younger folks seem to be having..and will have in the future.


15 posted on 09/08/2013 12:24:56 PM PDT by montanajoe
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To: HiTech RedNeck

amen High Tech

I went to the Latin Mass today

the sermon was in English, though

you should have heard what the celbrant had to say about Marxists

also, creeped me out, the news camera was parked outside recording everybody that went in, spying for the government as to who opposes their tyranny no doubt


16 posted on 09/08/2013 12:25:00 PM PDT by yldstrk (My heroes have always been cowboys)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

They are medicating for that disease call old age.


17 posted on 09/08/2013 12:26:22 PM PDT by oldbrowser (We have a rogue government in Washington)
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To: nickcarraway

Why would anyone fill out a survey like that honestly? And why would the researchers believe it?

If we all filled in “spice melange” from Arrakis would it get reported?


18 posted on 09/08/2013 12:27:59 PM PDT by DBrow
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To: montanajoe

ut I must admit we had a lot more fun along the way than all the younger folks seem to be having..and will have in the future.


Have you noticed that too? This generation seems very bland.


19 posted on 09/08/2013 12:34:17 PM PDT by rbg81
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Could be that a lot of Boomers are reverting to their native characteristics, but I wonder how much of this is comparable to the heavy reliance upon vodka in the USSR. :-(

When an iron fist rules, people perish.


20 posted on 09/08/2013 12:34:42 PM PDT by Ezekiel (The Obama-nation began with the Inauguration of Desolation.)
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