Teen Substance Abuse Trends

Survey finds higher number of teenage girls use alcohol, drugs to cope.
USA Today (6/30, Steinberg) reports, "Teen girls are more likely than teen boys to identify potential benefits from drugs and alcohol, says a study released today by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America." In a 2009 survey of "3,287 teenagers in grades nine to 12 in private and public schools," over "two-thirds of teen girls reported that using drugs helps kids cope with problems at home, and half said drugs help teens forget troubles." These data show that "people should not believe girls are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol than boys, says Steve Pasierb, president and CEO of Partnership for a Drug-Free America."
These figures represent an increase of "11 percent in the past year, from 53 percent to 59 percent" among girls, while "boys have stayed at about the same level, hovering around 52 percent," Newsweek (6/30, Dailey) reports. Yet, "these numbers are more indicative of a long-term trend than a sudden uptick. In 2005 the rate of girls who had used alcohol in the past year as surveyed by the partnership hit 57 percent, only to fall back to 55 percent in 2007 and 53 percent in 2008."