More American teens avoid drugs, alcohol

THURSDAY, July 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) – Over the last four decades, more than US teens have decided to say no to drugs and alcohol, a new report shows

"It There has been a steady increase in the proportion of students who complete high school and who report never having tried alcohol, marijuana, tobacco or other drugs, said the # 39 author of the study, Dr. Sharon Levy.It directs the Teen Addiction and Addiction Program at Boston Children's Hospital

.For example, while about 5% high school students had adopted abstinence in 1976, this figure had increased to 25% in 2014, according to the latest survey.The surveys conducted between grade 8 and 10 students between 1991 and 2014 uncovered a similar trend, abstinence from about 10% to almost 40% among the first and from 25% to There was also a jump in total abstinence in the month prior to each survey, rising from just over 20 percent among high school seniors in 1976 to more. by 50 percent in 2014. Among grade 8 students, this ranges from about 50 to about 65 percent, while among grade 10 students, abstinence from a month has passed from About 65 to about 85 percent, the results showed.

Levy said the downward trends did not catch off guard "The results may surprise people because we are constantly hearing bad news about drug use and the". Opioid epidemic. "

She explained that the consumption of alcohol and tobacco – the most common habits of drug use – popularity across the board for quite some time now, even though the Use of the pot remained stable.

But why? That remains "the million dollar question," said Levy, "and certainly it's not a simple answer."

Overall, she credited public health efforts for create a new cultural climate that encourages teens to use because it's dangerous and unhealthy, rather than because it's immoral or forbidden.

Eric Sigel, specialist in adolescent medicine at the Children & # 39; s Colorado Hospital in Aurora, said the results of these efforts were "encouraging."

Sigel, who was not part of the team, attributed this trend to popular campaigns such as Mothers Against. Drunk driving (MADD), increased availability of mental health and addictions programs, better modeling of parenting roles and focus on health risks, particularly by cigarettes

. "

For example "Even though, on the whole, fewer teenagers are using substances, those who are facing a landscape of more dangerous substances [like opioids] than their parents' generation," said Levy

. and Hispanic adolescents were less likely to choose abstinence, compared to their black peers. And because girls are more likely than boys to "abuse" prescription drugs – especially painkillers – they were also less likely to abstain completely, despite less frequent use. alcohol, marijuana and tobacco. that parents, primary caregivers and other trusted adults are talking to kids about avoiding prescription drugs, knowing how addictive they can be, "Levy said.

Moreover, she points out that there are still threats to our progress. "In particular, Levy pointed to the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and the steadfast appeal of marijuana, which are increasingly seen as safe.

These threats were also underscored by Sigel

. Efforts [education] on marijuana are detrimental to youth, "he said." We also did not have the opportunity to combat all the electronic use of tobacco products. "

Both habits are rising," said Sigel, a "predictable" development that "could influence these trends for years." "

The results of the study were published online on July 19 in the journal Pediatrics .

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Institute on Drug Abuse