Marijuana use more likely among American teens than binge drink

August 2, 2016

Report reveals high schoolers are increasingly shunning drinks for joints
Washington, D.C., has highest rate of cannabis, lowest rate of binge-drinks
Iowa has one of the highest binge-drink rates, lowest cannabis rates
European teens drink far more alcohol than they smoke cannabis

Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published:
09:19 EST, 2 August 2016

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Updated:
14:00 EST, 2 August 2016

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American teenagers are more likely to smoke marijuana than binge drink, a new report reveals.

Meanwhile in Europe, marijuana consumption is minimal while drinking levels are far higher than in the United States.

The data, published in a recent report by addiction-awareness firm Project Know, will reignite the national debate on marijuana legalization as the election approaches.

It comes after another report by the Department of Health found both alcohol and marijuana consumption among teens was in decline, even as states have been legalizing the drug.

High schoolers are increasingly shunning drinks for joints, according to a new report

Binge drinking was defined as consuming five or more drinks within two hours.

According to the report, Washington, D.C. – the nation’s capital for teen cannabis smoking – has the second-lowest binge-drinking rate in the US.

Iowa has one of the top binge-drinking rates, and one of the lowest rates of cannabis consumption.

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That trend can generally be applied to most states.

Along the East Coast, West Coast, and some Southwest and Midwest states, high school students more frequently used marijuana than binged drinks.

Binge drinking was most prevalent in Central and Western states – from Montana to Texas – and a few in the South.

Only two states – Nevada and Pennsylvania – consume both alcohol and marijuana at equal rates.

Along the East Coast, West Coast, and some Southwest and Midwest states, high school students more frequently used marijuana than binged drinks

Binge drinking was most prevalent in Central and Western states – from Montana to Texas – and a few in the South

TOP 5 CANNABIS STATES

DC (32.3%)

New Mexico (27.8%)

Washington (26.7%)

Connecticut (26%)

Vermont (25.7%)

TOP 5 DRINK STATES

West Virginia (24.4%)

Montana (23.5%)

New Jersey (23%)

Iowa (23%)

Arkansas (22.9%)

BOTTOM 5 CANNABIS STATES

Utah (7.6%)

Iowa (11%)

Nebraska (11.7%)

Kansas (14.3%)

Idaho (15.3%)

BOTTOM 5 DRINK STATES

Utah (5.9%)

DC (12%)

Hawaii (12.7%)

Alaska (12.8%)

Georgia (13.3%)

‘Nationally, 20 per cent of American high school students used marijuana within the last month, a rate much greater than that seen in most European nations,’ the report reads.

‘Only two countries, Spain (20 per cent) and France (24 per cent), equaled or exceeded the recent usage rates of U.S. students.

‘Elsewhere, rates of 10 per cent or less were the norm.’

The information was compiled before Washington, D.C., legalized marijuana.

The report also looked at rates of cocaine use over a lifetime – using the drug at least once.

This was fairly uncommon. The expensive and dangerous drug is not popular among today’s teens, according to the data.

The highest rates were seen in Arizona and New Mexico where 10 per cent of teens had tried the drug.

Cocaine use – even once – was fairly uncommon. The expensive and dangerous drug is not popular among today’s teens, according to the data

Prescription painkiller abuse is far more common among teens – who take pills such as opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines to induce a high

Nebraskan high schoolers are least interested in cocaine, with three per cent of teenagers having tried it.

Prescription painkiller abuse is far more common among teens – who take pills such as opioid painkillers and benzodiazepines to induce a high.

Indiana, which is the epicenter of the current opiate addiction epidemic, has similar rates of binge drinking and prescription painkiller abuse.

Twenty per cent of of high school students in the state reported binge drinking in the past month, compared to 21 per cent who had used illicit prescription drugs over their lifetime.