Wood County Prevention Coalition
Uniting For A Drug-Free Community Since 2004
Teen substance use shows promising decline
The 2016 Monitoring the Future (MTF) annual survey results released today from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reflect changing teen behaviors and choices in a social media-infused world. The results show a continued long-term decline in the use of many illicit substances, including marijuana, as well as alcohol, tobacco, and misuse of some prescription medications, among the nation’s teens. The MTF survey measures drug use and attitudes among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders, and is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the NIH.
Findings from the survey indicate that past year use of any illicit drug was the lowest in the survey’s history for eighth graders, while past year use of illicit drugs other than marijuana is down from recent peaks in all three grades.
Marijuana use in the past month among eighth graders dropped significantly in 2016 to 5.4 percent, from 6.5 percent in 2015. Daily use among eighth graders dropped in 2016 to 0.7 percent from 1.1 percent in 2015. However, among high school seniors, 22.5 percent report past month marijuana use and 6 percent report daily use; both measures remained relatively stable from last year. Similarly, rates of marijuana use in the past year among 10th graders also remained stable compared to 2015, but are at their lowest levels in over two decades.
The survey also shows that there continues to be a higher rate of marijuana use among 12th graders in states with medical marijuana laws, compared to states without them. For example, in 2016, 38.3 percent of high school seniors in states with medical marijuana laws reported past year marijuana use, compared to 33.3 percent in non-medical marijuana states, reflecting previous research that has suggested that these differences precede enactment of medical marijuana laws.
The survey indicates that marijuana and e-cigarettes are more popular than regular tobacco cigarettes. The past month rates among 12th graders are 12.4 percent for e-cigarettes and 10.5 percent for cigarettes. A large drop in the use of tobacco cigarettes was seen in all three grades, with a long-term decline from their peak use more than two decades ago. For example, in 1991, when MTF first measured cigarette smoking, 10.7 percent of high school seniors smoked a half pack or more a day. Twenty-five years later, that rate has dropped to only 1.8 percent, reflecting the success of widespread public health anti-smoking campaigns and policy changes.
Surgeon general: Teen e-cig use 'major public health concern'
The Surgeon General called electronic cigarette use among youth and young adults a “major public health concern” in a new report out Thursday (12/8) .
In the first comprehensive federal report on how electronic cigarettes are impacting the nation’s youth, the surgeon general found that marketing has played a key role in the skyrocketing rates of middle and high school students choosing to vape.
With more than 7,700 unique flavors on the market, flavoring was one of the most cited reasons why youth and young adults use e-cigarettes, along with curiosity and low perceived harm, according to 298-page report.
“These products are now the most commonly used form of tobacco among youth in the United States, surpassing conventional tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and hookahs,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said in the report.
“Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which can cause addiction and can harm the developing adolescent brain.”
The report also warns of the dangers of smoking e-cigarettes while pregnant. Nicotine can effect the development of the fetus and can also cause sudden infant death syndrome.
Though the report notes that the health effects of e-cigarettes are not completely known, it says e-cigarette aerosol is not a harmless water vapor – there are several known carcinogens contained therein.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) hailed the government for publicly acknowledging what it calls a public problem and calling for action.
“I think the surgeon general has a bully pulpit and just the like the surgeon general was very instrumental in bringing the attention of the country to the dangers of regular cigarettes, I think this is an opportunity to bring the dangers of e-cigarettes, which most people think are benign, not only to the attention of the general public but, legislators and physicians, and others that work with adolescents,” AAP President Dr. Benard Dreyer said.
“This is a call for us to talk to every child about the dangers of vaping.”
The report recommends parents, teachers, coaches and other people who influence children to start educating youth about the risks of using e-cigarettes.
Obama signs Cures Act
December 13, 2016
by Julie Miller, Editor in Chief
Behavioral Healthcare Executive
President Obama signed the 21st Century Cures Act on Tuesday, which authorizes $1 billion over two years to supplement existing grant programs for addiction treatment and prevention, prescription drug monitoring programs and workforce development. It also includes the final version of the Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Act, which was introduced in response to the Sandy Hook tragedy on Dec. 14, 2012, when a gunman entered a school and shot 20 children and six adults.
The bipartisan effort reflects a number of White House healthcare priorities.
“It is wonderful to see how well Democrats and Republicans in the closing days of this Congress came together around a common cause,” Obama said at the bill’s signing ceremony. “It indicates the power of this issue and how deeply it touches every family across America.
For behavioral health professionals, the key provisions for addiction and mental health have promise.
"The National Council applauds passage of the Cures Act,” says Linda Rosenberg, president and CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health, and a Behavioral Healthcare Executive editorial advisor. “We congratulate Congress and the White House for significantly funding the fight against opioid addictions. We're also pleased to see an array of important mental health and criminal justice grants, and we'll work to ensure appropriations are made.”
Rosenberg says the group is disappointed that behavioral health is still treated differently than other health conditions, however.
“Grants don't create and sustain evidence-based treatment capacity,” she tells BHE. “If you need chemotherapy or a stent you aren't dependent upon your provider having a grant, and you expect the people that treat you to have the needed skills. The time has come for people affected by addictions and mental illnesses to get equal treatment.”
It’s worth noting that Cures includes points from The Anna Westin Act of 2015, the first piece of legislation to address eating disorders specifically. It provides SAMHSA grants to update education and training to address eating disorders, while also requiring the National Institute of Mental Health to create public service announcements about eating disorders. Parity law is also updated to clarify that residential treatment for eating disorders should be covered equitably by insurance plans.
About Us
Our Vision: Helping youth be drug-free, productive and responsible citizens.
Our Mission: We are a coalition of compassionate community members working together to coordinate high quality programs for the prevention of youth substance abuse in Wood County.
Email: mkarna@wcesc.org
Website: wcprevention.org
Location: 1867 Research Drive, Bowling Green, OH, United States
Phone: (419)-354-9010
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WCPCoalition
Twitter: @woodpccoalition