Teen drug shock in US

On an average day in 2006, 1.2 million American teens smoked cigarettes, 631 000 drank, 586 000 used marijuana, almost 50 000 used inhalants, 27 000 used hallucinogens, 13 000 used cocaine, and 3 800 used heroin, according to a US government report released Thursday.

It also found that on an average day, almost 8 000 adolescents ages 12 to 17 drank alcohol for the first time, about 4 300 used an illicit drug for the first time, about 4 000 smoked cigarettes for the first time, almost 3 600 used marijuana for the first time, and about 2 500 abused pain reliever for the first time.

The report, by the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is based on national surveys conducted and analysed by the agency's Office of Applied Studies.

"While other studies have shown that significant progress has been made in lowering the levels of substance abuse among young people in the last few years, this report shows many young people are still engaging in risky behaviour," SAMHSA Administrator Terry Cline said in a prepared statement.

"By breaking the data down and analysing on a day-to-day basis, we gain fresh perspective on how deeply substance abuse pervades the lives of many young people and their families," Cline said. – (HealthDayNews)

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October 2007