Federal statistics tell us that more than 12 percent of eighth graders and 36 percent of high school seniors, at both public and private schools, reported smoking marijuana in the past year. Perhaps most alarming is that approximately 60 percent of seniors said they did not believe regular use of the drug is harmful.
Similar attitudes were reflected in recent driving research conducted by SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) and Liberty Mutual Insurance, in which 23 percent of teens admit to driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs. A whopping one in four teens (25 percent) who have driven under the influence of marijuana say they’re not distracted “at all” when mixing substance use with driving. With 13 million driving-aged teenagers, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, there is reason to be concerned.
