This chart has been floating around, and I find it interesting to speculate about the reason for this shift.

Have attitudes changed this much? Do teens have less independence or fewer places to go to do these things? Are parents more involved in teens’ lives? Was vaping excluded in the study?

  • Beacon
    12•4 months ago

    There are probably lots and lots of factors.

    • education about how using substances underage can mess up your brain development

    • ban on cigarette ads made them seem less cool

    • new laws that require id for anyone who looks 25 or under

    • stronger enforcement of sale-to-minor laws

    • mobile devices are able to stimulate you at all times when you otherwise would’ve used a substance

    • more empathetic parenting makes kids listen to parents more

    • etc etc etc