Cigarettes vs. Pot

U.S. High School Seniors Now As Likely to Be Smoking Cigarettes As Marijuana

High school seniors are as likely to smoke cigarettes in the past month as they are to use marijuana, according to the most recent data from the national Monitoring the Future survey. In 2008, 20.4% of 12thgraders reported smoking cigarettes in the past month, a substantial decline from the most recent high of 36.5% in 1997. Marijuana use was at its lowest in 1992 but has now elevated to 19.4%. This is the first time since the late 70s and early 80s that marijuana use and cigarette use is almost equal for high school seniors. Similar trends in cigarette and marijuana use have occurred among 8thand 10th graders.*

One one hand, cigarette smoking is at at an all-time low. 12th graders have a high perception of the hazards of tobacco use. Conversely, seniors have a low perception of the dangers of marijuana abuse. They are just as likely to smoke a joint as a cigarette. That is bad news.

But since we can reach teens about the risks with cigarette smoking, we should be able to do the same with marijuana. It will be very difficult here in MA with the new law. It will not happen overnight. Our efforts in substance abuse prevention must embrace the task of increasing the perception of harm with marijuana in order to reduce use.

*Source: "Trends in 30-day Prevelance of Use of Various Drugs in Grades 8, 10, and 12", Monitoring the Future study 2008