TEEN MARIJUANA USE UP, ALCOHOL USE DOWN

A NEW US SURVEY SHOWS A SURGE
IN DRUG USE AMONG HIGH SCHOOLERS

WASHINGTON (AP) - In what can be termed as a disturbing national trend of marijuana use among eighth, tenth, and twelfth graders, a new government survey found it to be the most widely used illicit drug by teens today, beating cigarette smoking. America’s teens are using more marijuana and less alcohol, according to an annual government study of eighth–, 10th– and 12th–graders across the country. Some 6.1 percent of high–school seniors reported using marijuana this year, up from 5.2 percent in 2009, according to the Monitoring the Future survey released by the National Institutes of Health. Marijuana use by 10th–graders climbed from 2.8 percent to 3.3 percent, and for eighth–grade students it edged up from 1.0 percent to 1.2 percent. “These high rates of marijuana use during the teen and preteen years, when the brain continues to develop, place our young people at particular risk,” said Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
On the other hand, binge drinking is on the decline. While 23.2 percent of high school seniors reported having five or more drinks in a row, that’s down from 25.2 percent a year earlier. On other topics the survey found: Use of ecstasy, which had declined in the early 2000s, is on the increase again. There was a small increase in teens injecting heroin, but only among 12th–graders. Use of cocaine remained low after declining from levels in the 1980s and 1990s. The survey conducted by the University of Michigan covered 46,482 students in 396 schools.


According to statistics which assesses drug and alcohol use among American youth, the rate of high school seniors who used marijuana rose by 10 % or more over the last year. The reason: heavy marijuana use during adolescence and pre-adolescence, when the brain continues to develop, influencing learning, trial and motor skills, and also causes adolescents to become addicted. Thus, marijuana's use not only can harm teens' short-term performance, but also their long-term potential. Drug overrides the intelligence and prevents us to grow and advance spiritually.

WHAT DO THE VEDIC TEACHINGS TELL US?

Drugs symbolize the escape, escape from ordinary life boring, a life without courage and without philosophy, a refuge in the darkest ignorance. ... Many of those who use drugs become depressed, and also have to start taking pills not to go crazy. Thus, they cause much pain to everyone, even friends they have to leave. Drug leads people to do ugly things, like stealing from loved ones what they need, abuse the feelings of others and their rights. ... Drug and drug addicts are the symbol of the deviation from the path to God. The desire of enjoyment leads them to destroy everything in life, even love, that precious aspect of each that allows shaping the self to please God and other beings. This precious love becomes totally unavailable for the addict. Krishna is the only thing that can save us. The great Master Swami Prabhupada revealed the secret knowledge of ancient Vedic scriptures and thus saved many of the drug. ... In conclusion, the lack of spiritual awareness and a materialistic mentality are one of the causes of drug addiction.

Śrīla Bhakti Aloka Paramadvaiti Mahārāja :
“Yoga vs. Drugs”
“Vedic Wisdom Collection”
http://www.sabiduriavedica.org/sv.php?id=48_57
http://luchasindrogas.blogspot.com/2007/09/yoga-vs-droga.html
http://bhaktipedia.org/english/index.php