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DESPITE TEENS' CAUTION, 'CLUB' DRUGS A LOCAL THREAT

The University of Michigan's 23rd annual survey of alcohol and drug use among 8th, 10th and 12th graders, "Monitoring the Future," provides insight into the changing nature of youth drug use.  It reports that teens are "more cautious" about using synthetic drugs.  This is good news, but gives many people pause.  What about the non-synthetic drugs we always have been concerned about - alcohol, marijuana, cocaine? These continue to be the most widely abused drugs among teens.  But in recent years, synthetic drugs, manufactured rather than found in nature, have emerged as powerful, easy to obtain, and sometimes perceived as at least quasi-legal - at least until law enforcement agencies and lawmakers can identify the exact chemical compositions and make them illegal to possess or sell.

The study found that nationally, the use of synthetic marijuana - also known as "K2" or "Spice," dropped sharply this year among teens surveyed.  And less than 1 percent had used "bath salts" - synthetic cathinones that mimic a cocaine or amphetamine-like high.  In addition, the study noted that the percentage of 12th graders who see great risk in using bath salts increased to 60 percent from 35 percent in 2011.  And use of alcohol has dropped dramatically to its lowest rates since the mid-1990s.

While this all may sound encouraging, the reality is that alcohol abuse among teens is widespread.  One in five 12th graders reported binge drinking - five or more drinks in a row - in the two-week period prior to being surveyed.  However, in comparison, in 1980 twice as many kids reported binge drinking.

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