NCJ Number
46571
Date Published
1975
Length
7 pages
Annotation
THE STATUS OF DRUG ABUSE AMONG YOUTHS IN THE UNITED STATES IS ASSESSED, AND ISSUES IN THE DEBATE OVER LEGALIZING MARIJUANA ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
LONGITUDINAL STUDIES ON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN SUBURBAN NEW JERSEY COMMUNITIES INDICATE THAT MARIJUANA USE AMONG YOUTHS INCREASED IN THE EARLY 1970'S ALTHOUGH THE INCREASE WAS LESS SEVERE THAN IN PRIOR YEARS. USE OF LYSERGIC DIETHYLAMIDE (LSD) APPARENTLY STABILIZED OR DIMINISHED AMONG YOUNG MALES AND STABILIZED OR INCREASED AMONG YOUNG FEMALES. USE OF ALCOHOL BY YOUTHS INCREASED MARKEDLY DURING 1974 AND 1975. CIGARETTE SMOKING HAS BECOME LESS COMMON AMONG BOYS BUT MORE COMMON AMONG GIRLS. THERE IS A TREND TOWARD REGULAR, AS OPPOSED TO EXPERIMENTAL, USE OF MARIJUANA AMONG YOUTHS. THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE FOR HASHISH, LSD, AND HEROIN. ONE IMPORTANT ISSUE WITH REGARD TO MARIJUANA USE IS THE AMOTIVATIONAL SYNDROME. A CERTAIN PERCENTAGE OF MARIJUANA USERS LOOSE THEIR MOTIVATION. WHEN THEY STOP USING MARIJUANA, THEIR GOAL-DIRECTED ACTIVITIES RESUME. CRUCIAL ISSUES IN THE DEBATE OVER LEGALIZING MARIJUANA RELATE TO THE QUESTION OF HOW MANY LEGAL INTOXICANTS SOCIETY WANTS, THE MATTER OF ESCALATION FROM MARIJUANA TO MORE DANGEROUS DRUGS (PARTICULARLY LSD), AND THE PROBLEM OF DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MARIJUANA. RESEARCH RELATED TO THESE AND OTHER MARIJUANA ISSUES IS CITED. THE NEED FOR STANDARDIZED, COMPUTERIZED EVALUATION OF ALL DRUG TREATMENT MODALITIES IS EMPHASIZED. THE STRENGTH OF THE FAMILY UNIT, THE PROVISION OF ALTERNATIVES TO THE DRUG SCENE, SOCIETY'S ATTITUDE TOWARD VIOLENCE, AND THE QUALITY OF POLITICAL LEADERSHIP ARE SAID TO BE THE MAJOR FACTORS THAT WILL DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE DRUG SITUATION IN THE FUTURE. (LKM)