According to the government├óΓé¼Γäós 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 22 million Americans 12-years-old and up use illegal drugs. That’s almost 9% of our population!
Marijuana was the most popular drug of choice last year with 17 million users, which has increased by 3 million people since 2007.
Gil Kerlikowske, the U.S. director of national drug control policy, believes this may be due to the growth of medical marijuana, explaining:
“Emerging research reveals potential links between state laws permitting access to smoked medical marijuana and higher rates of marijuana use. I urge every family – but particularly those in states targeted by pro-drug political campaigns – to redouble their efforts to shield young people from serious harm by educating them about the real health and safety consequences caused by illegal drug use.├óΓé¼┬¥
Fortunately, evidence shows marijuana is the only drug that had a significant increase.
Cocaine use has dropped nearly 1 million from 2006 to only 1.5 million, while methamphetamine use dropped by more than half to only a 10th of 1% of the population.
What we found to be the most disturbing news is how EASY it is for kids to get drugs.
Half of the kids between 12 and 17-years-old surveyed said it would be “fairly easy” or “very easy” to get their hands on pot, while 1 in 5 said it would be easy to get cocaine, and 1 in 10 said it would be easy to get heroin!
If there is anything to take away from the survey it may be the importance of educating your kids about drugs at a younger age. Don’t wait until they’re in high school to start talking about drugs because your kid’s friends probably won’t wait until high school to start getting curious.