Drug use among Argentine teenagers up 62 percent
By EFE, IANSFriday, October 9, 2009
BUENOS AIRES - The illegal use of drugs among teenagers in Argentina has risen by 62 percent over the past decade, a media report said, citing a government study.
The Higher Institute of Health Sciences carried out the study among the high school students, the La Nacion newspaper reported Thursday.
The number of students admitting to illegal drug use rose from 8.9 percent in 1999 to 14.6 percent this year, the daily said.
Alcohol consumption among teenagers rose by 26 percent in the past 10 years, while cigarette smoking fell by seven percent, the institute said.
A total of 2,752 high school students participated in the study.
About 52 percent of the students surveyed said drugs are easily available, while 96 percent of them said they used marijuana.
President Cristina Fernandez’s government last year created an advisory committee comprising judges, prosecutors, sociologists and other experts to help draft a law to decriminalize possession of drugs in small amounts for personal use.
In late August, the Argentine Supreme Court overturned the convictions of five people for possession of marijuana joints and declared criminal penalties for possession of drugs for personal (small amount) use as unconstitutional.
–EFE
