Marijuana Signatures?

[KrazyPete]

I've been seeing dis members, kids and adults with a signature that says something like, "98% of the teenage population does or has tried smoking pot. If you're one of the 2% who hasn't put this into your signature."

I'm all for anti-drug campaigns. I'm glad these folks (young and old) have decided to live drug free.

I would be interested to know where this 98% number comes from. Here's what I found when I started doing some research.

"Most teens aren't smoking marijuana. According to a 2002 study, about four out of five 12- to 17-year-old youths had never even tried marijuana."
2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. SAMHSA, 2002.

That means that in 2002 only 20% of kids between 12 and 17 had tried pot. And, a study by the University of Michigan at the end of 2006 said this:

"...marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug among teens, current use of marijuana has dropped by 25 percent over the past five years."
University of Michigan's 2006 Monitoring the Future (MTF)study

I'm afraid the signatures make drug use seem much more common than it really is. I know that the intention behind the signatures is good. However, I think they actually make smoking pot look "normal."

I'm not trying to call anyone out personally. Feel free to discuss.

 

[Dis-Wiz]

Good point!

I thought that statistic was a little off as well.