New Report Suggests Early Marijuana Use Warning Sign for Gang Involvement

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign released a new report this week indicating that teens who use drugs are more likely to engage in violent and delinquent behavior and join gangs later on in life, pointing specifically to early marijuana use as a warning sign of gang involvement.

The report shows that teens who use drugs are twice as likely to commit violent acts than those who do not. It also shows that the more drugs a teenager uses, the more likely they are to engage in violent behavior. Other findings include:

• Teens who use drugs, particularly marijuana, are more likely to steal and experiment with other drugs and alcohol, compared to teens who don’t;
• One in four teens (27%) who used illicit drugs in the past year report attacking others with the intent to harm;
• Nearly one in six teens (17%) who got into serious fights at school or work in the past year report using drugs;
• Teens who use marijuana regularly are nine times more likely than teens who don’t to experiment with other illicit drugs or alcohol, and five times more likely to steal;
• Parents remain the most powerful influence on their kids when it comes to illicit drugs; and
• Teens who are supervised or involved in structured activities during after school hours are less likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as drug and alcohol use and other violent or delinquent behaviors, than those youth who are unsupervised.

Given that the summer months are traditionally risky times when it comes to drug use among teens, the Campaign is urging parents and community groups to keep in mind that structured and supervised activities help keep teens away from drugs and other risky behaviors.

Although overall teen drug use has declined by 23 percent in five years and youth marijuana use is down by 25 percent over the same time period, more teens use marijuana than any other illicit drug. Parents and community groups play a crucial role in ensuring that teens are supervised and participating in activities that keep them away from drugs and other risky behaviors, especially during the summer months. For more information on actions parents can take, please visit the “Teens, Drugs, and Violence” section on TheAntiDrug.com: www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_gangs.asp.

Download the full report on “Teens, Drugs, and Violence” at www.theantidrug.com/advice/advice_gangs.asp.