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.
____
On the Net:
Office of National Drug Control Policy: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
Now you can just go back to your name calling since that is all you have.
BTW...did I mention I live in a 4500 square foot home?
The first numbers that really struck me in the article were near the end. They stated stated that over 30,000,000 Americans should be jailed for driving drunk:
"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....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.
That 30,000,000 ios several times the number of total users of marijuana.
I do believe that most of us agree that drunk drivers should be punished. Don't drunks deserve a War of their own?
I suppose the all-wise goobermint leaves that issue in the capable hands of the Mad Mothers.
The War on Drugs is a Freaking Joke placemarker.
It was the 'greatest generation' that changed the laws and made the rules more lax.
Us boomers.........even those of us who were born in the 40's were kids when prayer was removed from schools, and barely old enough to vote when Roe v. Wade was decided.
We weren't the ones organizing the riots in the 60's. But we WERE the ones in uniform fighting in Viet Nam.
It has been said many times on this thread, but there are good and bad folks in every generation. The WWII generation raised the boomers on Dr Spock and messed a lot of us up, but a great many of us WERE raised right, with strong morals and conservative values, and never used drugs or rioted or protested a thing.
Those saying otherwise are totally confused.
My brothers are both "war babies."
I could care less who or what you talk about with your cyber buddies. You do realize that that is different than actually having real, live friends that you can actually go out with, speak on the phone with, etc....just wanted to make sure you understood that. I just hope my retirement is full of real, live friends who want to go out and enjoy life!
Now let me announce, I have to go....volunteer duties are calling. But I know where to find you if I need you....:)
Nuttin. I love Dylan. Even met him once. My sister calls it the Bird and Bob day. Saw him in a cafe in Ventura. I walked up and said, "you're Bob Dylan" then burst into tears because I was so overwhelmed. While he was comforting me (I was a pretty little 15 year old surfer girl at the time), a bird let loose on my sister who was standing right behind me. I mean it LET LOOSE on her. EW. Might possibly be the most humiliating day of her life. So I mention it often.
FGS --- you are such a dolt. You do not realize that a lot of us know one another in person. We attend FR events!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
Hah! If your friend did such great research they'd see the number of parties we go to and that we give an extraordinary number of pool parties and I'm considered one of the better cooks in our neighborhood.
Maybe your friend isn't quite the researcher you think she is (I can guess which one, btw and she's another hysteric). But you just toddle off and get your homework done, dear. Don't forget to lock up when you leave; you never know what's going on in that trailor park.
Her jealousy is oozing from the screen and poor dear doesn't even realize it. Maybe she never had a female role model to guide her.
LOL --- a 4500 sq. ft. trailer. Who knew?
And now I have to go make dinner. Just wanted to make sure that I announce where I'm going because evidently that's what I'm known for doing. LOL
You have a great day, onyx and maybe I'll be around tonight while Mr. Peach watches opening night football. Until the Redskins play, I'm not terribly interested.
I didn't know they made trailors that large.
What's cookin'?
I am hungry.
Mr. Peach is grilling pork chops on the grill. We're having squash and then I'm steaming green beans and then will saute them with a little Amaretto and butter. A side salad with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, a little Sharaz and we're all set.
Hold a plate. I'll be right over!
I wish!
Me too! If you're ever near SC and don't come here to let me make you a meal, I'll never talk with you again. LOL
later, gator...
How old are you, Hamilton? Just how perfect is your generation?
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