Studies Students smoke more cannabis and drink less alcohol

According to one study, the consumption of tobacco and alcohol among young people in Frankfurt is declining. However, cannabis is becoming more popular with them. In the city, one wants to draw conclusions from the results of the drug study and create new counseling services.
Less alcohol and cigarettes - more cannabis
The young people in Frankfurt am Main smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less alcohol, but consume more cannabis. This is shown by the drug trend study MoSyD 2014, which was recently presented by the Frankfurt Health Deputy Rosemarie Heilig (Greens), the Drug Administration Frankfurt and the Center for Drug Research (CDR) at the Goethe University. In the survey, 21 percent of students aged between 15 and 18 said they regularly consume the illegal drug - more than ever before. A new high was also recorded in the number of consumers who frequently consume cannabis - at least ten times a month - from seven to nine percent. However, alcohol consumption is declining: In 2012, 70 percent of the students indicated that they regularly drink alcohol. In 2014, the figure was "only" 59 ​​percent.

Instead of alcohol, more and more young people are smoking. Image: © camilledcsx - fotolia

Age at first use increases
The figures, which have been collected by the CDR since 2002, mean that conclusions can now be drawn about long-term developments. The Frankfurt Drug Unit sees a certain connection between the consumption of the two addictive substances: If the consumption of alcohol increases, that of cannabis falls and vice versa. "We are obviously in the middle of a period when young people are consuming more cannabis," Health Department official Heilig said. That the age of the first use of drugs increases, assessed Heilig positive. In 2002, first consumers of tobacco were on average 12.8 years old, 13.9 last year. Similarly, the starting age shifted to the alcohol, the cannabis consumption rose during the period from 14.5 to 15 years.

Trend towards e-products
Around half of the respondents said they had experience with so-called e-products, such as electric cigarettes or e-shishas. This trend has also been going on for some time. Experts repeatedly point out that such products pose health risks. Various organizations, such as the German Cancer Aid, have long been calling for a ban on e-shisha for young people. A slight increase was also noted in the Frankfurter study with "hard drugs". Ten percent of students said they had tried addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin or ecstasy at least once in their lifetime, compared with eight percent the year before.

Better information for parents
As reported by the Drug Unit, a symposium during a discussion with students showed that the young people lack above all a trustworthy contact partner outside the school and home. "Talking to parents is not possible, they only panic when they learn about drug use," said the head of the drug department, Regina Ernst, according to a message in the "Frankfurter Rundschau". Teachers also left as contact persons because they had to report cannabis use. Half of all drug-using students use the Internet as a source of information, even though they regard the medium as less trusting. In the future, the Drug Unit wants to provide parents with more factual information, but also wants to create offers with counseling sessions for young people in an informal setting. (Ad)