For teens, sex and drugs go together

WASHINGTON – For teenagers, it appears that sex and drugs do go together, though the annual survey of U.S. teens didn’t ask about rock ‘n’ roll.

Teens who say at least half their friends are having sex are more likely to report having tried marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes, according to a survey released Thursday by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.

The survey asked youths between 12 and 17 years old about their use of illegal substances. Researchers then looked at other teen activities to see if those who used drugs had anything else in common.

“This year’s survey reveals a tight connection between teen sexual behavior and substance abuse,” said Joseph Califano, president of the Columbia center. “Parents who become aware of certain dating and sexual behavior by their children should be alert to the increased likelihood of substance abuse.”

Researchers compared teens who reported that at least half their friends erre sexually active with those who said that none of their friends were. About one in four teens reported at least half their friends were sexually active; about four in 10 said none were.

The study found that the first group is:

* More likely to have tried alcohol, 66 percent vs. 10 percent of those whose friends don’t have sex.

* More likely to have gotten drunk at least once in the past month, 31 percent vs. 1 percent.

* More likely to have tried marijuana, 45 percent vs. 2 percent.

* More likely to have tried cigarettes, 45 percent vs. 8 percent.

The survey also found that the more time teens spend with their boyfriends or girlfriends, the more likely they are to smoke, drink and use drugs.

No matter what their behavior, teens said that smoking, using illegal drugs and getting drunk are not cool. More than 80 percent said each of these activities make a teenager “seem like a loser.” About 10 percent said the activities make him or her “seem cool.”

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