Alabama Teens See Low Risk in Drug Use

According to the results of the Pride Survey on Student Behavior and Perception, teens believe that the risks associated with drug use are low.

Virginia Guy of the Drug Education Council in Mobile, Ala., says this trend has been developing over the past couple of years: "The last two or three years we've noticed that there has been an increased low perception of risk -- in other words kids aren't perceiving drugs as being very harmful or risky -- and we have some major concerns."

Guy attributes the trend to reduced funding for drug and alcohol education in public schools.

According to the Pride Survey, alcohol and tobacco use by Alabama teens decreased slightly this year over last year. However, use of alcohol and tobacco remains higher among Alabama teens than teens in other states. In addition, marijuana use by Alabama teens is on the rise. The study included survey responses from 280,000 students in grades six through 12 throughout Alabama.

(Source: www.wkrg.com)

Labels: marijuana, teen drinking, teen drug use

posted by Aspen Education Group @ 8:20 AM