Federal study: Teen smoking, drinking fall to new lows

Smoking and drinking among teenagers fell to new lows in 2015, new federal data shows, as young Americans continued to shift away from the habits of their parents (Source: “Smoking and Drinking Rates Among U.S. Teenagers Fall to New Lows,” New York Times, Sept. 9, 2016).

Just 9.6 percent of adolescents, ages 12 to 17, reported using alcohol in 2015, down from 17.6 percent in 2002, according to the data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Far fewer adolescents smoke every day: about 20 percent in 2015, down from 32 percent in 2002.

The annual survey is nationally representative and questions about 67,000 Americans, both youths and adults.

The trends were encouraging and long-running, experts said, and distinguished young Americans from their parents’ generation, which had much higher rates of smoking and drinking.

Smoking is the largest cause of preventable death in the United States, with illnesses linked to it taking more than 480,000 lives a year. The survey also tracked prescription drug use and abuse, as well as the use of illegal drugs like heroin.  If the dip continues next year, it could be a reason for optimism. Heroin deaths have been increasing rapidly across the country, but data showing a decline in use could be an early indicator that the trend is reversing.