Are millennials into drugs and alcohol more than the earlier generations? Let’s find out.
Millennials are those who were born between the early 1980s and the late 1990s. Therefore, it you’re in your 20’s or early 30’s today, then you belong in this generation.
In relation to substance use and abuse, guess what–millennials have it good.
A Prized Demographic
Millennials these days are considered a prized demographic. They are hip, trendy, and young. They set trends and innovations, and they have a great influence on everything–from political movements to the success of the latest products and the type of produce being consumed today.
And, despite the belief that younger generations use and experiment more with illegal drugs, the same is the opposite for millennials. While the generation is the first to grow up with speedy computers and the Internet, and they are the first to use social media, their hobbies and activities are under the spotlight and much more scrutinized than ever before.
While those that do drugs and alcohol are more publicized in today’s age of information saturation, research from the National Institute of Drug Abuse is shows that millennials actually don’t indulge much in drug and alcohol use compared to earlier generations. Between 1993 and 2013, teens have been observed to use less drugs and alcohol by 34%.
Alcohol is also less commonly used by millennials. Teenage drinking has decreased in 2003 by 42% and by 60% since 1995.
A Few Exceptions: Marijuana and Alcohol
While hard drugs like heroin, meth, and cocaine have declined among millennials, marijuana still has a run for their money. Marijuana use has in fact increased for this generation. While marijuana has fewer health hazards than alcohol, nicotine and other drugs, there are still risks in marijuana use.
Meanwhile, alcohol is also on a decrease as less and less millennials turn to the drink. Usually, those millennials who drink would prefer craft beer and wine over hard liquors like whiskey, gin, and vodka. However, many millennials drink twice more wine than their parents did on their age.
Despite these facts and figures, however, it is still up to you to decide whether you want to indulge in these substances. After all, addiction in general does not choose a generation or a person–it comes and changes you when you least expect it. Therefore, it’s still better to keep sober.
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