Drinking and Drug Use by Teens Closely Linked to Future Problems

A recent report co-authored by a Carnegie Mellon University researcher found drinking and drug use by youths is more closely linked with problems later in life than originally believed. The study tracked a group of New Zealand 15-year-olds into their 30’s and found a wide range of health and other issues include higher rates of early pregnancy, sexual diseases and under employment. The study compared teens with behavior problems before they began drinking and smoking marijuana with similar teens that did not have those behavior problems. The study found there was no difference between those groups at the age of 32. Nagin says this dispels some of the beliefs that drinking and drug use is just a phase ore something a teen will outgrow. He says this shows the importance of prevention programs and efforts to get kids to stop using drugs once they start.