Pot more popular than cigarettes, survey of Washington students finds

SEATTLE — Washington high school students who participated in a statewide health survey say they are twice as likely to smoke marijuana as cigarettes.

High school smoking has decreased significantly across the state, with cigarette smoking down in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12, but the number of high school students who believe using marijuana is risky is also at a low point, health officials said Thursday after releasing the 2012 survey results.

"As the perception of harm goes down, use goes up," said Washington Health Secretary Mary Selecky.

More than half of 10th graders said it is easy to get marijuana and about 19 percent said they smoked marijuana within 30 days of the survey. About 27 percent of 12th graders said they smoked pot.

Selecky expressed concern that marijuana prevention efforts are not ready to ramp up in response to the new state law legalizing adult marijuana use.

Colorado and Washington voters legalized marijuana possession for adults over 21 this past November, but possession remains illegal for youth.

Some people in Washington anticipated tax revenue from sales of marijuana at state licensed stores will be devoted to youth prevention education. But Selecky said marijuana stores are expected to open before new money for prevention efforts flows to the state. She noted that the state has worked hard to keep tobacco out of the hands of minors by making it illegal for anyone under 19 to buy cigarettes, but kids are still getting their hands on tobacco.

Washington already does some youth drug prevention, but to get the results seen in smoking prevention, they will need to increase their efforts significantly, Selecky said.

"We have our work cut out for us," she said.

The Healthy Youth Survey conducted in 2012 also found that fewer students are using alcohol, compared with 2010. About 23 percent of students in 10th grade reported drinking alcohol over the previous 30 days, compared with 28 percent in 2010. That number peaked at 45 percent in 1999. The 12th grade numbers dropped from 40 percent in 2010 to 36 percent in 2012.

The Healthy Youth Survey is taken every two years by students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12, in more than 1,000 public schools in Washington. More than 200,000 youth took the voluntary and anonymous survey in October 2012.

The results also found some troubling information in other areas, Selecky said.

About 8 percent of 8th and 10th graders said they attempted suicide during the past year, and about 1 in every 6 students said they seriously considered suicide, the survey found.

About 7 percent of 10th graders and 16 percent of 12th graders said they had four or more sexual partners, and the majority of students who said they were sexually active acknowledged they were not using condoms to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

There was some good news.

Students in all grades said they had increased their commitment to school and fewer were skipping class.

-- The Associated Press.SEATTLE — Washington high school students who participated in a statewide
health survey say they are twice as likely to smoke marijuana as cigarettes.

High school smoking has decreased significantly across the state, with cigarette smoking down in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12, but the number of high school students who believe using marijuana is risky is also at a low point, health officials said Thursday after releasing the 2012 survey results.

"As the perception of harm goes down, use goes up," said Washington Health Secretary Mary Selecky.

More than half of 10th graders said it is easy to get marijuana and about 19 percent said they smoked marijuana within 30 days of the survey. About 27 percent of 12th graders said they smoked pot.

Selecky expressed concern that marijuana prevention efforts are not ready to ramp up in response to the new state law legalizing adult marijuana use.

Colorado and Washington voters legalized marijuana possession for adults over 21 this past November, but possession remains illegal for youth.

Some people in Washington anticipated tax revenue from sales of marijuana at state licensed stores will be devoted to youth prevention education. But Selecky said marijuana stores are expected to open before new money for prevention efforts flows to the state. She noted that the state has worked hard to keep tobacco out of the hands of minors by making it illegal for anyone under 19 to buy cigarettes, but kids are still getting their hands on tobacco.

Washington already does some youth drug prevention, but to get the results seen in smoking prevention, they will need to increase their efforts significantly, Selecky said.

"We have our work cut out for us," she said.

The Healthy Youth Survey conducted in 2012 also found that fewer students are using alcohol, compared with 2010. About 23 percent of students in 10th grade reported drinking alcohol over the previous 30 days, compared with 28 percent in 2010. That number peaked at 45 percent in 1999. The 12th grade numbers dropped from 40 percent in 2010 to 36 percent in 2012.

The Healthy Youth Survey is taken every two years by students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12, in more than 1,000 public schools in Washington. More than 200,000 youth took the voluntary and anonymous survey in October 2012.

The results also found some troubling information in other areas, Selecky said.

About 8 percent of 8th and 10th graders said they attempted suicide during the past year, and about 1 in every 6 students said they seriously considered suicide, the survey found.

About 7 percent of 10th graders and 16 percent of 12th graders said they had four or more sexual partners, and the majority of students who said they were sexually active acknowledged they were not using condoms to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

There was some good news.

Students in all grades said they had increased their commitment to school and fewer were skipping class.

-- The Associated Press.
http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2013/03/pot_more_popular...

Views: 611

Comment

You need to be a member of 12160 Social Network to add comments!

Join 12160 Social Network

Comment by Burbia on March 15, 2013 at 4:06am
Arizona wilde says use of marijuana breaks the mind control programming.
Comment by Sweettina2 on March 15, 2013 at 1:30am

My stars.  Suicide is reaching record numbers in soldiers also. 

Comment by Ken Troxel on March 14, 2013 at 11:30pm

"About 8 percent of 8th and 10th graders said they attempted suicide during the past year, and about 1 in every 6 students said they seriously considered suicide, the survey found."

They should include the percentage of SSRI anti-depressant use when quoting suicide statistics, there is a correlation.  Mentioning suicide, which is on the national rise, was used to connect it to cannabis. In my opinion, cannabis use would tend to lower suicide rates.

Comment by Burbia on March 14, 2013 at 6:37pm
And in other news, hair dressers making less money due to the volume of dreadlocks among local population...

"Destroying the New World Order"

TOP CONTENT THIS WEEK

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SITE!

mobile page

12160.info/m

12160 Administrators

 

Latest Activity

Doc Vega posted a blog post

The Unnerving Frequency of Disappearances on the Appalachian Trail Pt. 1

There’s another one of the cluster zones of missing persons reports that fails to render the…See More
5 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

Waste runs deep

"Make USAID - go away."
16 hours ago
cheeki kea posted a photo
18 hours ago
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's photo
Thumbnail

$ Paid Annual Leave $

"Now is the Time for American Workers to Unite! Take back the squandered taxes and demand time off…"
Monday
cheeki kea posted a photo
Monday
Burbia commented on Burbia's blog post Mystery illness strikes Russia with fever, blood symptoms, and no cure in sight.
Monday
Burbia posted a blog post

Mystery illness strikes Russia with fever, blood symptoms, and no cure in sight.

I guess releasing this bio-weapon upon Israeli neighbors would be hitting too close to home. I…See More
Monday
tjdavis posted videos
Monday
tjdavis posted a video

The Electric State | Final Trailer | Netflix

Together, robots & humans can take the whole system down. THE ELECTRIC STATE starring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt and directed by the Russo Brothers, onl...
Sunday
Less Prone favorited Sandy's video
Saturday
Doc Vega's 7 blog posts were featured
Saturday
tjdavis's blog post was featured
Saturday
Sandy posted a video

"Mommy Tells Me I'm a Girl"-Jeff Younger

Soft White Underbelly interview and portrait of Jeff Younger, a father who is fighting to protect his son from transitioning into a girl. Get 40% off access ...
Saturday
tjdavis posted a video

MindWar: Full Spectrum Cognitive Dominance [Michael Aquino Analysis]

This is my analysis and my thoughts on Michael Aquino's "MindWar". This document is a must-read if you are looking to understand the psyop tactics and cognit...
Saturday
Doc Vega posted a blog post

A Horrid Murder at Land Between the Lakes (Sasquatch?)

 Most of us hear that Sasquatch-Bigfoot are intelligent yet reclusive creatures that are closely…See More
Friday
Doc Vega posted blog posts
Mar 27
cheeki kea commented on cheeki kea's video
Thumbnail

Metropolis (1927) Full Movie | 4K Color Remastered: 2023 Colorized with Gottfried Huppertz Score

"Hey thanks for the thumbs up guys. I was blown away (like a leaf in a tornado) when I watched this…"
Mar 27
tjdavis favorited cheeki kea's video
Mar 27
tjdavis posted a video

Did you know this? I was SHOCKED!

Wounder how many people know what they do to baby chicks? Wounder if they know what the are doing to Salmon? What about the lettuce and tomatoes? This will n...
Mar 27
cheeki kea posted a photo
Mar 27

© 2025   Created by truth.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service

content and site copyright 12160.info 2007-2019 - all rights reserved. unless otherwise noted