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Continued Decline in Youth Substance Abuse

Current illicit drug use among teens is continuing to decline, according to a new report by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) released today. The study also shows positive signs that teens are seeing the dangers of abusing prescription drugs and methamphetamine and are pushing back. Among youth ages 12-17, the 2007 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), the Nation's largest substance use survey, shows that the significant decline in overall past month illicit drug use that began in 2002 continued through 2007, from 11.6 percent to 9.5 percent.

The survey, released at the start of the 19th Annual National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, shows that the reductions in youth drug use occurred for nearly every type of illicit drug including marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, LSD, and Ecstasy. The survey also shows dramatic declines in meth use, down by 67 percent (from 0.3% to 0.1%) and prescription drug abuse among teens, which declined overall by 18 percent, from 4 percent to 3.3 percent between 2002-2007.

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Stronger Drinks Taken Off the Shelf

News Briefs - News Briefs

Written by Jenna Bensoussan

Friday, 29 February 2008

More than 25 supermarkets, convenience stores and off licenses are working with Westminster City Council. The scheme aims to reduce levels of drug dealing, begging and urinating in the borough's streets.

The shops agreed to stop stocking drinks such as Carlsberg Special Brew, Tennants Extra and Diamond White.

Tesco, Waitrose, Londis and Budgens, as well as off-licenses including Threshers, have joined the voluntary scheme in Marylebone High Street, Victoria and Pimlico.

Councillor Audrey Lewis, cabinet member for community protection and licensing, said: "Cheap, super-strength alcohol is aimed at alcoholics, drug users and some of the most vulnerable and needy members of society.

"Westminster is not alone in having to deal with the effects of the indiscrimate sale of alcohol, which blights towns and cities around the country."

Sir Simon Milton, leader of Westminster City Council, said: "The government needs to get a proper handle on this and come up with a robust national policy to deal what is a rapidly growing problem.

"It is also high time for the drinks industry to accept its own moral obligations."

The council surveyed people in nearby Paddington Gardens before and after the start of the Marylebone scheme and found the number of people who said street drinkers were a problem dropped by 35%.