Baby boomers fuel jump in pot use

Salt Lake Tribune ^ | 5/5/04 | Lindsey Tanner

[qam1]

CHICAGO -- Habitual marijuana use increased among U.S. adults over the past decade, particularly among young minorities and baby boomers, government figures show.

The prevalence of marijuana abuse or dependence climbed from 1.2 percent of adults in 1991-92 to 1.5 percent in 2001-02, or an estimated 3 million adults 18 and over.

That represents an increase of 800,000 people, according to data from two nationally representative surveys that each queried more than 40,000 adults.

Among 18- to 29-year-olds, the rate of abuse or dependence remained stable among whites but surged by about 220 percent among black men and women, to 4.5 percent of that population, and by almost 150 percent among Latino men, to 4.7 percent.

Among all adults ages 45 to 64, the rate increased by 355 percent, to about 0.4 percent of that population. The report, published in today's Journal of the American Medical Association, was led by Wilson Compton of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, who said the rise in dependence was probably due at least partly to increases in the potency of pot over the past decade.

Also, the figures may indicate that baby boomers "bring their bad habits with them into old age," he said. The researchers said adults were considered marijuana abusers if repeated use of the drug hurt their ability to function at work, in school or in social situations, or created drug-related legal problems.

Drug users were considered dependent if they experienced increased tolerance of marijuana, used it compulsively and continued using it despite drug-related physical or psychological problems.

Overall use of the drug -- that is, casual use and habitual use -- remained stable at around 4 percent of adults.

"This study suggests that we need to develop ways to monitor the continued rise in marijuana abuse and dependence and strengthen existing prevention and intervention efforts," said Nora Volkow, the institute's director. Programs that target young black and Latino adults are particularly needed, she said.

Increases in dependence among young minorities may reflect their growing assimilation into sectors of white society where marijuana use is more accepted, Compton said.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism contributed to the report.

[qam1]

[qam1]

Xer Ping

Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social aspects that directly effects Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.

Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details.  

[boxsmith13]

Baby Boomers are the worst generation ever

[Renegade]

Your souls belong to us !!

[Mears]

The Baby Boomers are really two generations,the early ones that practiced sex drugs, and rock and roll in the sixties,and the later ones born in the early sixties who actually have more in common with Gen X.

[stands2reason]

Increases in dependence among young minorities may reflect their growing assimilation into sectors of white society where marijuana use is more accepted, Compton said.

Sure. I know down here in Texas all the blacks and Latino's get all their pot from whitey. ROFLMAO!!!

[Stone Mountain]

The researchers said adults were considered marijuana abusers if repeated use of the drug hurt their ability to function at work, in school or in social situations, or created drug-related legal problems.

So one of the ways they consider someone an abuser is if they get into some drug-related legal problem. So every single person that the police bust, by definition, are marijuana abusers. So the more people the police bust, the more marijuana abusers they find. The more money they put into arresting marijuana users, the bigger the problem they find that they have with "marijuana abusers" and the more money they need for the future. Sounds like a nice little system they have set up...

Oddly enough, using this definition, the best way the government could discourage marijuana abuse would be to stop arresting users!

[eno_]

The prevalence of marijuana abuse or dependence...

Objective journalism.

[windcliff]

ping

[The kings dead]

Habitual marijuana use increased among U.S. adults over the past decade, particularly among young minorities and baby boomers, government figures show.

The prevalence of marijuana abuse or dependence climbed from 1.2 percent of adults in 1991-92 to 1.5 percent in 2001-02, or an estimated 3 million adults 18 and over.

So which is it: habitual use, or abuse or dependence?

Also, the figures may indicate that baby boomers "bring their bad habits with them into old age," he said.

The number of baby boomers is increasing?

[GunnyHartman]

[wtc911]

The number of baby boomers is increasing?

Yep, and we're not telling anyone how we're doing it.

[JmyBryan]

Execute these deviant scum.


/sarcasm

[tiamat]

Thank you.

I was born in 1960, and I have nothing in commen with Boomers. ( My SIL springs immediately to mind! LOL!)

Add to that, I was in the hospital for much of my childhood, so I never clicked culturally until the late 70's.

[The kings dead]

The number of baby boomers is increasing?

Yep, and we're not telling anyone how we're doing it.

"After two puffs I was turned into a bat twins."

[DumpsterDiver]

Increases in dependence among young minorities may reflect their growing assimilation into sectors of white society where marijuana use is more accepted, Compton said.

A pox on those white people.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism contributed to the report.

Stick to drinking. It's a more socially acceptable habit.

[The kings dead]

Stick to drinking.

What's a little violence, addiction, and death among friends?

[DumpsterDiver]

What's a little violence, addiction, and death among friends?

Exactly!

[Vision]

Baby Boomers are the worst generation ever

Yes

[quadrant]

The conclusions expressed in this report are depressing and disgusting. It is obvious that the drive to legalize pot for medical reasons is but a sham. Supporters of legalization want to use pot for recreational not medical purposes.