Posted on 09/07/2006 9:03:19 AM PDT by Incorrigible
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.
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On the Net:
Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
All one has to do is read your posting history to realize you rarely leave FR.....and BTW....why would I would be jealous of you...I have my whole life ahead of me.
Oh, hon. You can't tell time yet either? Having the computer always on in the study makes it so easy to do the things I wish to do and then pop in here and post.
You're clearly jealous of baby boomers and their wealth. This isn't the first time you've tried to condemn them, even when presented with facts that don't bolster your position.
But hey, as a racist, maybe you don't care about facts. You know, it's typically the ignorant who are so terribly racist.
Yes, the anti war movement in 1968 was not formed, led, reported on, and politically responded to by kids from age 4 to 22.
You make the point that helps explain why I worry so much about this historical ignorance.
The President was not being impeached by the kids of the time.
You have to start studying modern American history.
How do you define Generation X? Are they those born between 1960 and 1965, or this born between 1965 and 1981, or those born between 1961 and 1981? There doesn't appear to an agreed upon range of years for Gen X and I'm just curious how you define it.
does Ambian CR and Crestor count as drug use?
Anyway, like I said, all anyone has to do is to look at the times you post, etc....to realize you rarely leave your house. FR is your retirement, but that is okay, to each his/her own.
I have no reason to be jealous of anyone, as I said, I have my whole life ahead of me.
"The Baby Boomers continue to show how society should NOT behave."
Society is doomed. We now learn in a headlined newspaper article that 4 percent of middle-aged (boomer) people smoke pot.
I worry about people using methamphetamine, regardless of age.
I don't worry much about 50+ year old pot smokers.
Dave's not here.
#1. I have no clue which buddy you're talking about but if you want to post someone else's comment to make your own racist comment look less disgusting, have at it.
#2. I have a terrific life and I love it and wouldn't change anything about it. I'm blessed.
#3. Yes - you have your whole life ahead of you. Make the most of it because right now, with the stupid and racist posts I see coming out of you, you don't have much of a future. There's a world of difference between having a life and having a future. Your future is limited unless you gain a little intellectual curiousity outside your racist world. You might stop trying to condemn an entire generations but I doubt that point is within your intellectual capability to grasp. And it sounds like class envy, whether you wish to admit it or not.
Anyway, your deal with class envy is typical baby boomer speak. Believe me, I am not jealous of whatever money you have.
History will be the final judge of the baby boomers and I am young enough to be around when it starts to be written....:)
Conclusion: Baby Boomers are dumber than the average teenager.
Exactly.
If you have issues with YOUR parents, take it up with them.
Exactly my point.. thanks for making it for me. Boomers parents tried to instill proper values to their children, but far too many just ignored it and did whatever "felt right". And in the process greatly damaged the societal fabric of this Republic.
Very, very good post. It puts it all into perspective. I am glad I don't have to defend that.
Protagoras,
I know it was not the majority.. the majority just sat silently did nothing and let them have their way. Like I said.... squandered opportunity.
I see you're still the two-faced little snot you've always been.
You never have the nerve to say stuff to people's faces, do you, yellowdog?
I have no reason to be jealous of anyone, as I said, I have my whole life ahead of me.
Well, YOU'RE here on FR a hell of a lot of the time, aren't you? I guess you have a lifetime left of being here, huh?
One thing we have is children who don't spend time online trashing others, that's for sure.
I'd die of embarassment if one of my stepdaughters had the time in their lives to post online to "old folks."
Another thing "we" Boomers don't do and never did: trash the generation before us.
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