Q: Can you tell me the extent of drug use among kids today? Is the problem getting worse, or are we making any headway?
A: While the use of alcohol and illicit drugs among youth is a big concern, when looking at drug use over many years, it is clear that some progress has been made toward thwarting the problem.
There is a large-scale survey that looks at alcohol and illicit drug use among eighth-, 10th-, and 12th-graders called Monitoring the Future, conducted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Let me share with you some overall findings from the 2008 survey.
Over the last several years, illicit drug use has shown a slight decline, with little change between 2007 and 2008. It was found that in 2008, 32.6 percent of all young people had used an illicit drug in their life. During the month before the students completed the survey, 14.6 percent reported using an illicit drug. While this is still concerning, in the late 1990s drug use was much higher. In 1999, for instance, about 42 percent of youth reported lifetime use of illicit drugs, and 19.5 percent had used during the past month.
Alcohol use also has declined. At its highest, in 1997, 69 percent of youth had used alcohol in their life. In 2008, it was 55 percent. Reported use of alcohol during the past month was 37 percent 10 years ago, and now it is down to 28 percent.
This is positive news, although still there are far too many young people who use alcohol and other illicit drugs. And new drugs hit the scene all the time, so constant effort and vigilance needs to occur.
Q: I know that I need to quit smoking, but I am not sure if I am ready to stop completely. I was thinking of switching to light cigarettes, and trying to smoke less. I know that I should stop completely, but I am wondering if there could be any benefit to doing this. At least it is a start.
A: Let me first say that I am glad you are thinking about quitting and are willing to try to do something That is the good news. The not very good news is that switching to light cigarettes probably won't help you quit smoking.
One study looked at people who changed their usual brand of cigarettes to a light, low tar, or mild brand. What researchers found was that those who did this were half as likely to quit smoking as those who stuck to their usual brand.
Of the 31,000 smokers studied, 38 percent had switched to a lighter brand as a way to quit. Overall, these smokers were 60 percent less likely to succeed than those who kept smoking their usual brand and quit.
So for you, it is great that you are willing to try something. However, my suggestion is to go all the way and to try to stop smoking completely If you struggle with being ready to stop entirely, perhaps nicotine replacement therapy by using either the patch or gum would be the way to go. I wish you the best.
Michael Levy, Ph.D.
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Send questions about addictions or related problems to: Take The First Step, c/o The Eagle-Tribune, 100 Turnpike St., North Andover, MA 01845; or send e-mail to michael_levy@cabhealth.org. Questions will be answered in confidence by a clinical team led by Dr. Michael Levy, director of clinical treatment services at CAB Health & Recovery Services in Peabody and author of "Take Control of Your Drinking...and You May Not Need to Quit."
