| ■ School Stress Leading Reason for Teen Drug Use: Survey | 2008.08.19 |
| Coping with school-related stress and pressures is the main reason U.S. teens give for using drugs, according to a Partnership for a Drug-Free America survey that appears to confirm that drugs are increasingly used by teens as a way to solve problems rather than for fun. The survey of 6,511 teens found that 73 percent reported school stress as the chief reason for drug use, United Press International reported. However, only seven percent of parents believe teens use drugs to cope with stress. Overall use of marijuana, Ecstasy, inhalants, methamphetamine, alcohol and cigarettes has declined, according to the survey. It also found that about 20 percent of teens have abused painkillers and other prescription medicines, and that 41 percent think prescription drug abuse is safer than illegal drug use, UPI reported. |