Nicotine, prescription drug misuse climbed among American youth amid pandemic: study
Fox News
Overall rates of drug use among American adolescents held stable six months into COVID-19 pandemic, however shifting trends indicated an uptick in nicotine and prescription drug misuse while alcohol use fell.
Results also suggested young teens who experienced severe stress, anxiety or depression, or familial economic hardship were at highest risk of using substances. "The past year has been difficult, and adolescents have experienced a year of turmoil and stress in precarious space between childhood and adulthood," Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said in a news release. "Recognizing how the stress of the past year translates into substance use has profound implications into adulthood, because drinking and drug use at these ages are associated with a substantially higher risk of long-term alcohol and drug use disorders and related harms."More Related News
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