Drug use up for boomers, down for teens

AP via Yahoo ^ | 9/7/2006 | KEVIN FREKING

[Incorrigible]

Drug use up for boomers, down for teens

By KEVIN FREKING,
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Some moms and dads might want to take a lesson from their kids: Just say no. The government reported Thursday that 4.4 percent of baby boomers ages 50 to 59 indicated that they had used illicit drugs in the past month. It marks the third consecutive yearly increase recorded for that age group by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Meanwhile, illicit drug use among young teens went down for the third consecutive year — from 11.6 percent in 2002 to 9.9 percent in 2005.

"Rarely have we seen a story like this where this is such an obvious contrast as one generation goes off stage right, and entering stage left is a generation that learned a lesson somehow and they're doing something very different," said David Murray, special assistant to the director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy.

The annual survey on drug use and health involves interviews of about 67,500 people. It provides an important snapshot of how many Americans drink, smoke and use drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Overall, drug use remained relatively unchanged among Americans age 12 and older in 2005. About 19.7 million Americans reported they had used an illicit drug in the past month, which represented a rise from 7.9 percent to 8.1 percent. The increase was not only due to the boomers, but an increase was also seen among those 18-25, the age category that always ranks highest when it comes to illicit drug use.

Among the 18-25 group, drug use rose from 19.4 percent to 20.1 percent. Federal officials commenting on the report emphasized the drop in use among younger teens without citing the increase in the next older age group.

"The news today is there is a fundamental shift in drug use among young people in America," Assistant Surgeon General Eric B. Broderick said in a statement.

Murray called the 18-25 group the gauntlet through which everybody runs. He said the peak of drug use among youth in the United States occurred in the late 1970s.

"And they brought it with them like baggage when they hit 50 and 60," Murray said.

Drug use by baby boomers increased from 2.7 percent in 2002 to 4.4 percent last year. Marijuana was by far their drug of choice, Murray said.

That's true overall. There were 14.6 million people who reported using marijuana in the past month, about 2.4 million cocaine users and 6.4 million people who used prescription drugs for nonmedical purposes, such as pain relievers, tranquilizers or sedatives. In 60 percent of those cases, the drugs came from a relative or friend for free. Only 4.3 percent reported buying the drug from a drug dealer or other stranger.

While drug use went up slightly in '05, so did alcohol use. Slightly more than half of Americans age 12 and older reported being current drinkers of alcohol. That translates to 126 million people, up from 121 million people the year before.

Officials noted that alcohol use among those 12-17 did decline from 17.6 percent to 16.5 percent.

The percentage of Americans who acknowledged driving drunk at least once in the past year also dropped slightly in 2005 — from 13.5 percent to 13 percent.

Meanwhile, tobacco use held steady at about 29.4 percent, even though among youths 12-17, tobacco use did drop from 14.4 percent to 13.1 percent.

____

On the Net:

Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/

Not for commercial use.  For educational and discussion purposes only.

[MineralMan]

"I have mentioned several times that I am in school. Read the thread I started about Tony Snow taking the press job and you will note where I had to leave the thread for school work. "

---

Hey, that's OK. You work hard at school, so you can join the adult world and play a role in getting things done. Yes, work hard.

Then, someday, you may have accumulated enough wordly wealth to retire, like I have. Oh, I still work at something I enjoy. I'm very busy, too, but most of what I do is done in the evenings. This evening, I'm teaching English to a group of Hmong immigrants. They're very eager to learn, so they can become better integrated into our society.

Did I tell you that I'll begin collecting Social Security next year? That will be very nice. I'll be able to forget about working for money and spend more time on doing things for which there's no payment. My other retirement planning will make it easy.

But, yes, you work hard in school, so you can take your place in the adult world. I'm sure you'll do something worthwhile with your life.

You keep us in touch with what you're up to, OK?

[HamiltonJay]

I did read.. I wasn't talking about YOU personally, but "you" as in the general sense... if you (a person) are still using illicite drugs in your 50s that's worthy of mockery.... saying its only 4.4% vs 20somethings 20%.... is less than deserving of mockery is no real argument as far as I can tell.

Particuarly since it the Boomers embracing of drug use that has lead to its broader acceptance since their days... as I said before how many of you could have looked your parents in the eye and honestly said "Yea, well you did it."

Higher drug use by subsequent generations is just part and parcel of the societal legacy of the boomers.

[MineralMan]

Oh, very good. There are those missing data. Boy, it sure looks like the Gen-Xers use a lot more drugs than the Boomers do, huh? Well, now. Not only do they drink and drive, but they dope it up a lot, too.

Never mind. I guess this story was a bit slanted, eh.

Well, I have to dodder off to get ready for this evening. Now, where did I put my cane? Can't wait for that Medicare to kick in, doncha know?

[yellowdoghunter]

I am just glad to hear that others actually leave FR and go out and do things. I think that is wonderful! I know many on here are retired or what-have-you and I wonder if that is what retirement is supposed to about. Being inside and on the computer day and night, I mean 24, 7.

Just please know that I never "flee" from a conversation, I just have things to do and I don't announce when I am leaving, like others do...:)

Tonight is volunteer night on a campaign I am working on for State Senate.

[yellowdoghunter]

Well, I have to dodder off to get ready for this evening. Now, where did I put my cane?

I just have to say that that made me laugh out loud. I know you are not that feeble...:)

[Peach]

Gee, sounds like you're young and immature enough you can't admit you were wrong about boomers ruining society now that the real facts are coming out. tsk tsk

[yellowdoghunter]

I stand by my statements whether you like them or not. You still have Bill Clinton to answer for.

Doesn't it get boring being on FR day and night?????

[Tokra]

I guess I should have been more specific. Yes, I understand all generations rebeled in some form or another. But the Baby boomers took it to a whole new level. One that America may never recover from. I am from Gen X.....we are trying to pick up the pieces.

There may be some truth in what you say, but from the standpoint of being a supervisor I have always found - without fail - the older the person is, the more work ethic they have and the younger the person, the lousier the work ethic is. Employees in their 50s and 60s work very well, do what they are told and don't complain so much. Workers in their 20s whine incessantly, think they should start off at the top and have to be forced to do anything "not in their job description" at the point of a gun.

Sorry - but very true. Ask any manager and I'll bet most of them will agree with me.

[MineralMan]

"Being inside and on the computer day and night, I mean 24, 7. "

Oh, let's see. What did I do today, when I wasn't on Free Republic. I went fishing. Not much luck, though. On my way to go fishing, I dropped off 25 packages to go to this week's eBay customers. I delivered some lunch meals to some old folks who can't get out very well.

I dropped in on my mother-in-law, to see whether there was anything she needed. My father-in-law died just two weeks ago, so she's still sorta fragile. My wife went by a little later, and my mom-in-law is coming over tonight for dinner. I'm roasting a chicken and serving it with some nice rice and peas.

Then, after dinner, I'm teaching that English class I mentioned. I get out a lot. It's great! Yet, I have time to spend here on Free Republic, encouraging young college students to work hard so they will be productive adults someday.

[Peach]

So you stand by your racist statements? Good to know.

I have to answer for Bill Clinton? Why is that?

As to being on FR day and night, you clearly don't know what you're talking about. But we're used to that from you.

You sound jealous that a former investment analyst got to retire at age 42 and now can do whatever I want when I want. And if that includes my passion - politics - thankfully my husband supports me in a lifestyle that permits me to have a blast and do what I wish to do.

[yellowdoghunter]

I cannot argue the work ethic value of those in that generation. So you do have a point. However, I think most people grow up and most do develop that type of work ethic after being a slacker in their 20's.

[HamiltonJay]

Yes yes, it was your parents who were in the streets rioting in 1968... how could I have missed that?

Yes, yes it was your PARENTS whos divorce rates soared to the highest in the world....


Yes, yes... it was your PARENTS used abortion as birth control....

Yes yes.. it was your PARENTS who were sitting around getting stoned and living in those free love communes....

It was your PARENTS who were the willing dupes of the KGB during the late 60s...

And it was Hillary's parents who were preping the impeachment case against Nixon...

Yes yes... I see.... a pity the facts don't jive with that claim though.

[MineralMan]

"However, I think most people grow up and most do develop that type of work ethic after being a slacker in their 20's.
"

A slacker, eh? I joined the USAF when I was 20. I stayed in until I was 24, then went back and finished college, got a Masters, then started the first of my own businesses.

I don't remember being a slacker, frankly. Maybe I missed that period of my life, stoned on drugs, I guess, but I seem to have gotten a lot done in my 20's.

You just don't get it, do you? Yes, there were some idiots among the Boomers, just as there are in your age group. So it goes.

[MineralMan]

"Yes yes.. it was your PARENTS who were sitting around getting stoned and living in those free love communes....
"

No, it was YOUR parents doing that, not ours. Ours were teaching us proper values.

[TKDietz]

That's right. In 1970 the oldest boomer was 24 and the youngest was 6 years old. In 1960 the oldest was 14 and the youngest hadn't even been born yet. Still, Boomers are blamed for everything that went on in the sixties and seventies. If you go back and look at who the "counterculture" leaders and popular thinkers were of that era, you'd see that almost every single one of them was born prior to the Baby Boom years. Boomers were just a bunch of kids who joined the party their elders started. Look at Woodstock, almost all the rockers on the stage were born before the Baby Boom. Timothy Leary was born in the 1920's. Abbie Hoffman was born in the 1930's. The Beatles were all born prior to 1946. The Boomers get a bad rap because there are a lot of people out there just have some pathological need to blame all our problems on some group of people.

Me, I was born in 1965. Those Baby Boomers born in 1964 weren't any worse than those of us born in 1965. A good number of my senior class in high school were Baby Boomers and they were no different than the Gen X'rs in the class.

[Protagoras]

Umm, son,,,how many of the people who are so called "boomers" did the things you just described?

You know, the street riots, getting stoned, living in communes, cuddling up to commies,,etc?

I was born in 1950 so I know the truth, but feel free to fill me in on the numbers.

Did they have history classes when you were in school? How the hell old are you anyway?

[Peach]

Yes. We have such boring lives.

Let's see, this morning I went to the gym. Had tea with a friend afterwards.

Came home, freeped and went to the grocery store. Baked a bread for a sick neighbor. Wrote out a card for a friend in the hospital. Called friend in the hospital.

Listened to the president's speech. Did laundry. Ironed. Listened to an hour of Rush. Made a snack for my husband.

We called on a sick neighbor with bread. Squash is cooking in the oven. Pulled out autumn clothing on and off between freeping. Catalog shopped.

Oh, yes, I'm bored alright. ROFL

After years of being told by women who are from the Greatest Generation that housewives are boring and working is better, much as I loved and adored my job, I love and adore being a housewife even more.

Maybe tomorrow, if God is good, I can have an equally "boring" day. LOL

[yellowdoghunter]

That is wonderful. You do do alot when not posting on FR. Just goes to show that now everyone holes themselves up in their homes and does nothing productive.

Volunteering is one my passions...I admire those who do that as well.

[yellowdoghunter]

I never said I was a slacker. Just that people in their 20's can be slackers but most outgrow it. At least that is what I have witnessed.

[CJ Wolf]