Study: Hispanic Teens Abuse More Drugs

White House Report Says Use Among Hispanic Teens Higher Than Whites, Blacks

(CBS/AP)  Hispanic teenagers used illegal drugs at greater rates than white and black teenagers, according to a report released Monday by a White House drug control policy office.

The report, Hispanic Teens & Drugs, warned that while overall illegal drug use among U.S. teens was down, Hispanic teens' use of marijuana, cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine outpaced use by their white and black peers. The report blamed drug use among Hispanic teens, in part, on their adaptation to new culture in America.

Besides the report, which was based on 2005 and 2006 data from academic, federal and nonprofit organization studies, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy also announced an anti-drug ad campaign targeting Hispanic teens and their parents that will begin appearing this week across the country.

The report found slightly more than 10 percent of Hispanic eighth-graders had used illicit drugs in the month before the survey compared to 7.5 percent of whites and 8.6 percent of blacks in the same grade.

Marijuana was the most commonly used illegal drug among all teens, the report said. Eight percent of Hispanic eighth-graders had used it in the month before the survey; for whites and blacks the percentages were 5.8 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively, the report said.

Higher percentages of Hispanic eighth-graders also used inhalants, cocaine and methamphetamine, followed by their white and then black counterparts, the report said.

The report, which didn't mention Asians, partly blamed Hispanics' adoption of American cultural and lifestyle habits, called acculturation; acculturated Hispanics were almost 13 times as likely to report using illegal drugs as non-acculturated Hispanics, the report said.

Citing an unnamed study, the report said 7 percent of acculturated Hispanics reported using illegal drugs within the previous month compared to less than 1 percent of non-acculturated Hispanics and 6 percent of whites.

Overall, illegal drug use among eighth-, 10th- and 12th-graders was down 23 percent since 2001, the report said.

The report also indicated that more than one in five Hispanic teens reported abusing prescription drugs to get high.

"We're heartened to see teen drug use declining, but clearly much more needs to be done," said Hector Gesualdo, executive director of ASPIRA of New York, an advocacy group for Hispanic youth.

He called the figures in the report "a cry for help."

"We know firsthand that our after-school programs, mentors and parent workshops are highly effective in keeping young Latinos in school, off the street and away from drugs," Gesualdo said. "ASPIRA is committed to stepping up its efforts and looks forward to working with (the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy) on this vital initiative."

This week the office and more than a dozen community and national organizations, including ASPIRA, will launch print and television ad campaigns targeting parents and teens. One campaign, dubbed an Open Letter to Parents, features ads emphasizing that illegal drug use hinders academic success, which the office says Hispanics "emphasize and value particularly."

The ads also offer parents tips. Among them: Get children involved in extracurricular activities; be involved in teens' lives; monitor teens' Internet use; have candid conversations with teens about illegal drugs.

A deputy director of the drug control policy office, Scott Burns, said teens are less likely to use illegal drugs if they learn about the risks from their parents.

"But research shows parents are having fewer and fewer conversations about drug use," Burns said. "Hispanic teens say fear of upsetting their parents is the main reason why they don't use drugs, and parents can use this influence to help prevent drug use."

[mitywhity]

Who is shocked by these statistics?

[highthis]

People need to stop ******** about Bush and let''s talk about how to change it and fix it. If you people can''t, but I have a ideal and that is to force the parents to tell there kids about not having drugs. That can work, because parents are the power of the kids and need to understand that they are new Americans and need to start a new life. You always think that bush is bad, but you are complaing about a thing that is not a problem than Bush. I''m trying to say that we need to be smart and teach the community about drugs and the family life. Just don''t *** at the President, just solve the issue is put out there. Don''t Hide it.

[bizzzz-2009]

Your right guys. It''s a myth a lot of Hispanic have drugs, or that most of the drugs in this country come from Mexico and south America, or that Hispanic drug gangs saturate south California and elsewhere.

[bstallion]

"I said that because whenever somebody post something that does not favor a particular race they are called a racist".

No one called you a racist and I certainly don''t know you well enough to know one way or the other. I don''t sense racism in you,....I sense misinformation in you. Misinformation and a willingness to believe what is written down if it fits in with your own beliefs. Does that make you a racist? You tell me?

[bizzzz-2009]

That''s because when your Hispanic, somebody in your family is selling it.

[peter776-2009]

Ha Ha...a reason for hispanics to stay in their own countries huh? Why is it that so many "Americans" love to visit those countries year after year, why is it that "Americans" cant get enough of their foods, music and women/men?? And why is it that when Hispanics go for an interview they get the job over the "American" that only knows one language? Why is it that we come out with higher IQ levels? Maybe you shouldn''''t mind whether Hispanics come into this country, you might just learn something from them.

What galaxy are you from srivera7? Hispanics have the lowest high school graduation rate of any demographic group in the US. Higher IQ? I don''t think so, seeing as so many illegal aliens from Latin America can''t even speak SPANISH. Work harder? That''s a joke too. All that "hard work" has created countries like Mexico, where trash is everywhere, roads are filled with potholes, telephones don''t work, and electricity is provided every third day. Illegal aliens get jobs because they work for nothing. All these factors add up to one thing: the fence needs to be completed along the US-Mexico border, and illegal aliens need to be sent home. We''ll be much better off without the teeming masses of unskilled, uneducated and non-Englsih speaking aliens now infesting our country.

[theusa1st]

Just because some whites wrote it down doesn''''t make it a fact.


Posted by bstallion2 at 03:29 PM : Sep 25, 2007

I don''t hide behind my wife...I said that because whenever somebody post something that does not favor a particular race they are called a racist. Maybe you should get that chip off your shoulder or are you just amother excuse maker. The facts are hispanics have surpassed blacks concerning teen pregnancies or pregnancies out of wedlock. Study after study has proven it. Please show me in the article that says it was written by a white person.

[bstallion]

"And by the way...my beautiful wife is hispanic so don''''t try and play the race card. Read the facts...stop making excuses"

Guess what?....My beautiful wife is white. Don''t hide behind the color of your wife as a demonstration of your "open-mindeness". "Face the facts" What facts? That study is probably as biased as all the other written "opinions. Just because some whites wrote it down doesn''t make it a fact.

[theusa1st]

These studies never seem to find that whites do anything wrong. It''''s always "other" folks. Are "others" truly that messed up,...or do you have a difficult time looking in the mirror?

Posted by bstallion2 at 02:29 PM : Sep 25, 20

maybe you should read it again...there was also comparisons with blacks and whites. Maybe higher than average drug use accounts for higher than average teen pregnacies among hispanic teens. And by the way...my beautiful wife is hispanic so don''t try and play the race card. Read the facts...stop making excuses.

[tucano2]

Hopefully such drug use will render them sterile, and docile enough to deport them without much fanfare.

[bstallion]

These studies never seem to find that whites do anything wrong. It''s always "other" folks. Are "others" truly that messed up,...or do you have a difficult time looking in the mirror?

[srivera7]

Public urination?? lmao! the only ones seen doing that are the White people that are always drunk or drugged up whether its day or night. hahaha

[srivera7]

Ha Ha...a reason for hispanics to stay in their own countries huh? Why is it that so many "Americans" love to visit those countries year after year, why is it that "Americans" cant get enough of their foods, music and women/men?? And why is it that when Hispanics go for an interview they get the job over the "American" that only knows one language? Why is it that we come out with higher IQ levels? Maybe you shouldn''t mind whether Hispanics come into this country, you might just learn something from them.

[jeahernandez]

Hispanic people are always blamed for drug abuse. What about the white people who are always getting caught by cops and resisting arrest. More violence happend in the Northern Part of America than the South side. Try other countries besides Mexico. Mexico is a very poor economy and still Americans try to take over. We don''t have people blown up in buildings. Either do something about it or stop pointing the finger to hispanics.

[takn]

Interestingly enough, about 80% of illicit drugs come from Mexico...

[takn]

Wow, yet another reason for hispanics to remain in their own countries...to prevent their children from being corrupted by our evil American culture.

[anauhs9909]

Isn''t this a slight bit racist?????????

[cryonbrian]

Who does these stupid studies?

[olebd]

This explains the loud music, yard parties and public urination I guess.

[olebd]

RACIAL PROFILING, RACIAL PROFILING. BWOOP, BWOOOP!