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SourceNational Institute on Drug Abuse Back To the Table of Contents ForumsHealth, Safety, Nutrition and KidsRelated ArticlesGrowing Up Drug Free: A Parent's Guide To Prevention
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A Letter to Parents
Marijuana is the illegal drug most often used in this country. During the last three years, we have seen a doubling in marijuana use among 8th graders, and significant increases among 10th and 12th graders. Our research shows that accompanying this upward pattern of use is a significant erosion in antidrug perceptions and knowledge among young people today. While current marijuana use among high school seniors has increased by 38 percent, the proportion of those who believe marijuana use is harmful has dropped by 22 percent in the past three years. These changes in perception and knowledge may be due to a decrease in antidrug messages in the media, an increase in prodrug messages through the pop culture, and a lack of awareness among parents about this resurgence in drug use - most thinking, perhaps, that this threat to their children had diminished. In December 1994, HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala, Ph.D. called for an Initiative to alert the public - particularly parents - to the rise in marijuana use, its potential health consequences to young people, and the need for parents to take action to prevent the return of a full-blown epidemic of teenage drug use. Because many parents of this generation of teenagers experimented with marijuana when they were in college, they often find it difficult to talk about marijuana use with their children and to set strict ground rules against drug use. But marijuana use today starts at a younger age - the average age of first use is about 13.5 years old - and more potent forms of the drug are available to these young children. Parents need to recognize that marijuana use is a serious threat - and they need to tell their children not to use it. We at the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) are pleased to offer these two short booklets, Marijuana: Facts for Teens and Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know, for parents and their children to review the scientific facts about marijuana. While it is best to talk about drugs when children are young, it is never too late to talk about the dangers of drug use. Talking to our children about drug abuse is not always easy, but it is very important. I hope these booklets can help.
Director National Institute on Drug Abuse
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