KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — The Kalamazoo County Substance Abuse Task Force is out with its annual survey on what teenagers are using, taking and smoking, and the local trends are the same ones they are seeing nationally, with one big difference.
The numbers show the use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana and other drugs all dropping, and just like the national figures, the use of electronic cigarettes is rising at an alarming rate.
Task Force Director Ashley Bergeon says there are a lot of misperceptions about the devices.
The big difference between the national and local statistcs is the concern about the legalization of marijuana in Michigan.
She says they have a lot of work ahead to educate adults about the effect of THC on young brains and what they must do.
The study found that while parents blame peer pressure, social media and music for teen substance abuse, the teens say family stress is what drives them to find ways to cope.
(copy written by John McNeill)
