tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542739.post113876288492387790..comments2024-01-05T09:33:41.964-05:00Comments on Dare Generation Diary: State of the UnionGarret Overstreethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09591273708913985060noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542739.post-1138834507286323622006-02-01T17:55:00.000-05:002006-02-01T17:55:00.000-05:00That's 16.3, which is a big swing away from 19. A...That's 16.3, which is a big swing away from 19. And, again, it's only if you count each grade drop, rather than the average.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542739.post-1138811378458109352006-02-01T11:29:00.000-05:002006-02-01T11:29:00.000-05:00No, when they truly want to be disingenuous they'l...No, when they truly want to be disingenuous they'll cite drug use trends since '79.<BR/><BR/>From Trends in Lifetime Prevalence of Use of Various Drugs for Eighth, Tenth, and Twelfth Graders:<BR/><BR/>2001:<BR/><BR/>8th Grade: 26.8<BR/>10th Grade: 45.6<BR/>12th Grade: 53.9<BR/><BR/>2005:<BR/><BR/>8th Grade: 21.4<BR/>10th Grade: 38.2<BR/>12th Grade: 50.4<BR/><BR/>Without actually breaking out a calculator, this is roughly a 19% drop from one to the other.<BR/><BR/>But these numbers don't really mean much anyway. It seems to me that more lifetime users has, at best, a shaky correlation to trends in more drug abusers. The core issues should be how kids are educated about drugs, knowing the lines between use and abuse, and keeping a responsible focus through the situations they encounter.<BR/><BR/>If you connect the dots between Bush's comments about abstinence and renewing "the defining moral commitments of this land," then I think that cuts a bit closer to the culture war we're engaged in.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542739.post-1138771763019128042006-02-01T00:29:00.000-05:002006-02-01T00:29:00.000-05:00I suppose Bush is "connecting the dots" in mention...I suppose Bush is "connecting the dots" in mentioning welfare reform, drug education, and support for abstinence and adoption. I will avoid preaching to the choir here regarding drug education, but I will say I am stumped as to how these "wise policies" constitute any consolidated difference in national character. It would be creepy in its facist overtones if it only had a thread of logic. Sometimes I think his simian persona is really the ultimate velvet hammer.<BR/><BR/>And way to keep the fire burnin', SSDP'ers.krishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07556785727076551197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542739.post-1138766933016169972006-01-31T23:08:00.000-05:002006-01-31T23:08:00.000-05:00Here's the actual stats:* Trends in 30-Day Prevale...Here's the actual stats:<BR/><BR/>* <A HREF="http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/05data/pr05t3.pdf" REL="nofollow">Trends in 30-Day Prevalence of Use of Various Drugs for Eighth, Tenth, and Twelfth Graders</A><BR/><BR/>Essentially, it says a two-percent overall reduction for each in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades for past-month use from 2001 to 2005.<BR/><BR/>On the other hand, if you compare to 1991, past-month use has increased 5% (if you average the grade levels).<BR/><BR/>As for where the 19% comes, I'm not sure. If you add up each percentage point change in every grade level between 2001 and 2005, you get a total of 11.2%, which is disingenuous to begin with.<BR/><BR/>* <A HREF="http://www.monitoringthefuture.org/data/05data/pr05t1.pdf" REL="nofollow">Trends in Lifetime Prevalence of Use of Various Drugs for Eighth, Tenth, and Twelfth Graders</A><BR/><BR/>I'll leave someone else to pickle out lifetime use. But it's increased in every catagory since 1991.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542739.post-1138766049045078372006-01-31T22:54:00.000-05:002006-01-31T22:54:00.000-05:00I either don't understand or don't believe the 19%...I either don't understand or don't believe the 19%/2001 statistic. Our President also just said, "For all Americans, we must confront the rising cost of care … strengthen the doctor-patient relationship." Marijuana is an inexpensive (naturally-occuring) medicine which doctors should (do?) have the right to discuss with their patients.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18542739.post-1138765061230822822006-01-31T22:37:00.000-05:002006-01-31T22:37:00.000-05:00ok....so what's wrong with that?ok....so what's wrong with that?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com