For Many Youth, Summer Means First-Time Substance Use

Summertime. No more pencils, no more books. Longer days and good weather for swimming, baseball, camping, or a family trip to the beach. And what else is going on?

According to a new report from SAMHSA's 2002 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, June and July are top months for first-time use of both marijuana and cigarettes by young people.

The study, Seasonality of Youth's First-Time Use of Marijuana, Cigarettes, or Alcohol, focused on youth under age 18 who initiated use of marijuana, cigarettes, or alcohol within the year preceding the survey.

Respondents were asked to indicate the month in which they first used each of these substances.

Percentages of first-time users of marijuana, cigarettes, and alcohol increased between spring (April and May) and summer (June and July).

Specifically, among marijuana initiates, first use was highest during June and July (11 percent per month), compared with just 8 percent per month during April and May. November (7 percent) and December (6 percent) had the lowest percentages.

According to the SAMHSA report, June and July, compared to the rest of the year, show a 40-percent increase in first-time marijuana use among youth. Each day in these two summer months, an average of 6,300 youth try marijuana for the first time.

First-time cigarette users were more likely to begin use during June (13 percent) and July (12 percent) than during other months, increasing from 7 percent per month during April and May.

February (5 percent) and December (5 percent) had the lowest percentages of youth initiating use of cigarettes.

First use of alcohol was highest during December (13 percent), January (13 percent), June (12 percent), and July (12 percent).

The percentage of youth alcohol initiates increased from 6 percent per month during April and May to 12 percent per month during June and July. February had the lowest percentage (5 percent) of youth initiating the use of alcohol.

To order Seasonality of Youth's First-Time Use of Marijuana, Cigarettes, or Alcohol, contact the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information at P.O. Box 2345, Rockville, MD 20847-2345. Telephone: 1 (800) 729-6686 (English or Spanish) or 1 (800) 487-4889 (TDD). The report can be viewed on the SAMHSA Web site at www.oas.samhsa.gov.

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