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On December 17, 2009, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration published a bulletin update reporting that adolescents perceive a greater risk to using Tobacco Products Than Illicit Drugs or Binge Drinking.  Perceptions of lower risk may influence decisions to experiment with drugs.

Adolescents across all age groups perceive a greater risk to smoking cigarettes than the use of alcohol and other substances including cocaine and LSD.  An individual’s perception of risk about a substance can be a key factor whether they decide to refrain from using.

Interesting facts from the report include:

• Nearly 70 percent of adolescents aged 12-17 perceived great risk from smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day.  This rate was stable across age groups.
• Only 40 percent of adolescents perceived great risk from binge drinking (having five or more drinks of alcohol once or twice a week), and just over one third (34.2 percent) perceived great risk from smoking marijuana once a month.  About half perceived great risk in using cocaine once a month (49.7 percent) or LSD once or twice (50.9 percent).
• Females were more likely than males to perceive great risk from smoking one or more packs of cigarettes per day, from having five or more drinks of alcohol once or twice a week, and from smoking marijuana once a month; males were more likely than females to perceive great risk from trying heroin once or twice.

It is important for churches, youth groups and adults to discuss the realities and risks of substance abuse with the adolescents that we have the chance to influence.

Do Something: Substance Abuse Ministry DVD
Introducing Do Something: A Substance Abuse Ministry DVD available through the Christian Life Commission. To order, contact Alicia Enriquez at 214.828.5192, or e-mail alicia.enriquez@bgct.org. The cost is $2.

CLC Substance Abuse Ministry Podcasts
Pathways to Prevention
www.hazelden.org

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