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| Wel come to the Foreignformation Section. Here you can find very cool and crucially important information on various topics of interest and importance as exclusively looked at by persons and organizations outside of the H.A.W.T.O. Network. |
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| All these Information Resources have been widely collected, compilled/formatted and produced on this page for your research needs, understanding and enjoyment. (All info. on this page is subjected to weekly updates). |
| Information resources are external to H.A.W.T.O.'s own views and ideas on topics of discussion. However, HAWTO is most certainly in concensus with all views, ideas and discussions in this section. |
Premarital Sex and the dire consequences. |
Teenagers And Drug Use - USA 1996
Since 1975, the Monitoring the Future Study has measured the extent of drug abuse among high school seniors. In 1991, the study began also surveying 8th and 10th grade students, providing estimates of drug use among a younger population.
Among the graduating class of 1996, 50.8 percent of students had used an illicit drug by the time they reached their senior year of high school, continuing an upward trend from 40.7 percent in 1992
Use of any illicit drug in the preceding year (annual use) by seniors increased from 27.1 percent in 1992 to 40.2 percent in 1996.
The percentage of seniors who had used an illicit drug within the preceding month (current use) increased from 14.4 percent in 1992 to 24.6 percent in 1996.
Lifetime Drug Use
Substance 8th-graders 10th-graders 12th-graders
Marijuana 23.1% 39.8% 44.9%
Cocaine 4.5% 6.5% 7.1%
Inhalants 21.2% 19.3% 16.6%
LSD 5.1% 9.4% 12.6%
Alcohol 55.3% 71.8% 79.2%
Cigarettes 49.2% 61.2% 63.5%
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Marijuana
The lifetime use of marijuana among 12th-graders increased from 32.6 percent in 1992 to 44.9 percent in 1996; however these rates are still below the high levels of the peak years of 1978 and 1979. There were no statistically significant increases in annual, current, or daily use of marijuana among seniors from 1995 to 1996.
Among 8th-graders, increases in lifetime, annual, and current use of marijuana first reported in 1992 continued through 1996. Between 1992 and 1996, lifetime use increased from 11.2 percent to 23.1 percent; annual use increased from 7.2 percent to 18.3 percent; and current use increased from 3.7 percent to 11.3 percent.
Among 10th-graders, lifetime use of marijuana increased from 21.4 percent in 1992 to 39.8 percent in 1996. Annual use increased from 15.2 percent in 1992 to 33.6 percent in 1996, and current use increased from 8.1 percent in 1992 to 20.4 percent in 1996.
In 1996, 44.9 percent of seniors had used marijuana at least once (lifetime use), up from 32.6 percent in 1992. Annual use of marijuana among seniors peaked at 50.8 percent in 1979, decreased steadily to 21.9 percent in 1992, and increased to 35.8 in 1995. Current use increased from 11.9 percent in 1992 to 21.9 percent in 1996.
Marijuana Use In Past Year
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996
grade 08 6.2% 7.2% 9.2% 13.0% 15.8% 18.3%
grade 10 16.5% 15.2% 19.2% 25.2% 28.7% 33.6%
grade 12 23.9% 21.9% 26.0% 30.7% 34.7% 35.8%
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Cocaine
The use of cocaine among 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders continued a gradual upward climb; however, most increases between 1995 and 1996 did not reach statistical significance. In 1996, 4.5 percent of 8th-graders, 6.5 percent of 10th-graders, and 7.1 percent of 12th-graders used cocaine at least once in their lives.
In addition, in 1996, 1.3 percent of 8th-graders, 1.7 percent of 10th-graders, and 2.0 percent of 12th-graders had used cocaine within the 30 days preceding the study.
Crack cocaine use increased among 8th-, 10th-, and 12th-graders between 1992 and 1996. Study results showed that 2.9 percent of 8th-graders, 3.3 percent of 10th-graders, and 3.3 percent of 12th-graders had used crack at least once; 1.8 percent of 8th-graders, 2.1 percent of 10th-graders, and 2.1 percent of 12th-graders used crack within the preceding year.
LSD
Rates of lifetime, annual, and current use of LSD among 8th-, 10th- and 12th-graders have gradually increased each year since 1992. In 1996, 12.6 percent of seniors had used LSD at least once in their lifetimes, and their annual use of LSD was 8.8 percent, surpassing the corresponding levels of use during the peak years of the mid-1970s.
Annual use of LSD by 8th-graders was 3.5 percent in 1996 (up from 1.7 percent in 1991). Annual use for 10th-graders increased from 3.7 percent in 1991 to 6.9 percent in 1996.
Inhalants
Use of inhalants tends to be higher among 8th-graders than 10th- or 12th-graders. Among 8th-graders, inhalants are the fourth most widely abused substances, behind alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana.
In 1996, more than one in five 8th-graders (21.2 percent) had used inhalants, which include glues, aerosols, and solvents, at least once in their lives. Annual and current use among 8th-graders was 12.2 percent and 5.8 percent, respectively.
There was no statistically significant change in lifetime or annual use of inhalants by 8th-, 10th-, or 12th-graders between 1995 and 1996.
Alcohol
Between 1995 and 1996, the percentage of 8th-graders reporting daily use of alcohol increased from 0.7 percent to 1.0 percent. In addition, the percentage of 8th-graders reporting having been drunk in the past month increased from 8.3 percent in 1995 to 9.6 percent in 1996.
Alcohol use among 10th- and 12th-graders remained level but at high rates, with 21.3 percent of 10th-graders and 31.3 percent of 12th-graders reporting having been drunk in the past month.
Binge drinking (having five or more drinks in a row in the preceding 2 weeks) was reported by 30.4 percent of high school seniors, 24.8 percent of 10th-graders, and 15.6 percent of 8th-graders in 1996.
Cigarettes
Cigarette smoking continued to rise among 8th- and 10th-graders and remained at high levels among 12th-graders, although there were no statistically significant changes in seniors' use.
Between 1995 and 1996, use of cigarettes in the past month increased from 19.1 to 21.0 percent among 8th-graders and from 27.9 to 30.4 percent among 10th-graders. About one-third of 12th-graders (34.0 percent) used cigarettes in the past month.
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ADOLESCENTS' PERCEIVED IMPORTANCE OF RELIGION FOUND TO LESSEN THEIR DRUG USE
Especially When Facing Life Hardships
WASHINGTON - When adolescents perceive religion as important in their lives, it may lower rates of cigarette smoking, heavy drinking and marijuana use, according to a study that tracked urban adolescents from middle school through high school. The researchers from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that the perceived importance of religion was particularly important for teens who were facing a lot of life stressors. These findings are reported in the March issue of Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, published by the American Psychological Association (APA).
Those adolescents who viewed religion as a meaningful part of their life and a way to cope with problems were half as likely to use drugs than adolescents who didn't view religion as important. And this held most true while facing hardships, like having an unemployed parent or being sick themselves, according to Thomas Ashby Wills, Ph.D., Alison M. Yaeger, Ph.D., and James M. Sandy, Ph.D. This is known as a "buffering effect," from the concept that something about religiosity serves to buffer the impact of adverse circumstances, said the researchers. The effect of religiosity was not limited by ethnicity, as comparable effects were for adolescents from all of the ethnic groups in the study (African-Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians).
From a sample of 1,182 adolescents in the metropolitan area who were surveyed on four different occasions from 7th grade through 10th grade, the authors tracked the adolescents' drinking, cigarette smoking, marijuana use and perception of religion through early to late adolescence. This enabled the authors to take into account developmental changes that occur during these ages that might influence drug use. Importance of religion was determined by responses to simple questions such as, "To be able to rely on religious teachings when you have a problem", or "To be able to turn to prayer when you're facing a personal problem". Participants rated each question on a scale from "Not at all important" to "Very important."
"These buffering effects could be occurring," said Dr. Wills, "because religiosity may influence a person's attitudes and values, providing meaning and purpose in life. It could also help persons to view problems in a different way. Besides offering coping techniques, being involved with a religion can also create more healthy social networks than adolescents would have if they got involved with drugs to find social outlets." This research was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
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PREMARITAL SEX...THE SITUATION
Be responsible: Don't do it or use contraceptives
Obviously, the solution to unwanted pregnancies is to avoid sex or use contraceptives. With our sex laden culture and media, the genie is out of the bottle. Sex between 13 and 30 is just too appealing for many of us to resist until we marry at age 30. The old line "save yourself for marriage" just ain't going to work any more. The "have sex" message, however, has overshadowed the "protect yourself" message. TV has prohibited birth control ads. We are real retarded in learning how to use contraceptives. Science has provided us with many highly effective birth control methods but we don't use them. But religion keeps telling us that premarital sex is a sin. 20% to 25% of singles in their twenties use no contraception. 40% of divorced men use none. How can we take control of our reproductive lives? The concept of the family--a monogamous union with one or two well cared for, very loved, carefully planned children--is a cherished, commendable ideal. What do we need to learn to achieve it? A lot.
First, many attitudes need to change. Males must stop believing that women are responsible for avoiding pregnancy... and for the pregnancy, if it occurs. As a society, we must hold males, even 12 or 13-year-olds, partly responsible for their impregnations. As a teenage male, you must think of the problems and pain inflicted on the girl if she gets pregnant. If she chooses to have the baby, you may be morally obliged to partly support that child for the rest of your life beginning at conception. As the father of a child, that has many implications for your relationship with your parents, for your education and career, for your relationships with all other women if you don't stay with the mother of your child, etc. Fatherhood is an awesome responsibility time-wise, money-wise, and emotionally, not just until the child is out of college, but forever. The woman--your child's mother--is responsible for your child forever, so why shouldn't you be? She and the child need you for more than four hours every other weekend. I urge every unmarried person, male and female, to read the section about the effects of divorce on children. The harm of bitter break-ups and fatherlessness affects the children of divorce seriously for decades. Think deeply about the consequences to you, your partner, and the possible child before "going all the way." This is no time to be entirely emotional and impulsive.
Second, similarly but even more importantly, young girls must never think that young boys and men are the "sexual experts" who will "know what they are doing" and take precautions against pregnancy. Every female must become an expert in birth control and sex, equal to any man, and far superior to any man in terms of knowing her body, her preferences, her morals, her sexual plan-for-life, etc. Every female must constantly realize that she is responsible and in charge of her body at all times. Every female must be familiar with the ignorant, irresponsible, selfish, inconsiderate kind of male who often objects to using a condom. Even an anxious, excited 13-year-old girl with a crush on a hunk of a guy must be strong enough to say in advance, "I must be protected or we aren't doing it" or better "we must both be responsible and use some protection (from pregnancy and disease). I will use a diaphragm with spermicide and you must use a condom!" She must know what she is doing; she must know that petroleum jelly (not KY jelly) deteriorates rubber (not latex) in 60 seconds, that her placement of her diaphragm must be checked by a doctor, and much more. She must practice handling this I-demand-protection scene over and over in her mind (or with friends) long before getting sexual with any guy. Our lives don't work out well if we don't plan and prepare.
Every human being, male and female, who isn't ready right now for marriage and children, must learn to say, "I must stop the baby before I start the sex." If the male's hands have gotten to the woman's breasts or on her panties before birth control is on hand, they are both sexually irresponsible, inconsiderate of their partner, and a menace to each other's well being. We must learn to control ourselves. People uncomfortable with sex are not good at birth control. So, learn about and practice birth control methods until you are comfortable.
Ask yourself: "Am I mature enough to have sex?" If you are too shy to buy a condom and some spermicide, too poor to get a diaphragm or cervical cap, too embarrassed to get on the pill or have an IUD inserted, too uninformed to know about DEPO-PROVERA or when pregnancy can occur, or too irresponsible to do anything to avoid pregnancy, you should never (or let anyone) get close to a breast, let alone touch panties. There are so many reliable and convenient contraceptives available for about $30 a month that there should be very few unwanted pregnancies. If you have trouble remembering to use a contraceptive every time, consider Norplant ("the implants") or Depo-Provera ("the shot"--there are some reports of bad side-effects). Both deliver hormones that effectively prevent pregnancy for a few or several weeks. Or, consider a reliable IUD. See Web sites below for information about the risks of failure with each method.
As stated above, a good rule would be for both sexual partners to each assume responsibility for one contraceptive, so that two birth control methods are always used, say a condom (with spermicide) and the pill. I recognize this advice will not be taken by many but it should be. About 60% of sexually active college students do not use birth control at all or only occasionally. How stupid and inconsiderate! Remember, college students with negative attitudes towards sex (and the opposite sex?) use birth control even less than those with positive attitudes. Conversely, a sexually responsible partner is more likely to have a healthy, positive, thoughtful attitude towards sex. The failure to use condoms is not due to intellectual ignorance, it is due to psychological and sexual hang-ups (guilt and denial of reality and/or responsibility) and a lack of consideration for others. Having unprotected sex is very mean to the person with whom you are gratifying yourself.
Several Web sites provide information about birth control methods. See How to Use a Condom or Health Central. For more complete information about birth control go to Planned Parenthood or, for women, Birth Control Methods. Planned Parenthood is especially good.
Women assume men's sexual response is much greater than it is and they minimize their own response. In women, sexual guilt (resulting from taboos and religion), inhibitions, and morals seem to be associated with a denial of one's own sexual arousal, e.g. when watching erotic films or when petting. For guilt prone people, their erotic arousal is greater than they realize. Thus, there may be some truth in the old joke, "Religion doesn't stop you from sinning, but it sure keeps you from enjoying it!" Guilt may also keep you from being safe too. Don't let fear and shame (or uncontrolled horniness) dominate your good sense about birth control.
Beyond guilt, denial of sexual intentions, and avoidance of contraceptives, we are astonishingly misinformed about sex as well. Only one third of young mothers knew when during their menstrual cycle they could get pregnant. Almost 10% of 15 to 19-year-old women think they are too young or have sex too infrequently to get pregnant. Wow! Some people believe they can't get pregnant if the female doesn't have a climax or douches with pickle juice or if sex is done standing up. Wow! People try to make condoms out of Saran wrap. Men have told women, "I have fantastic control, so don't worry I won't come inside you." And the ignorance goes on and on. It is sad that we (parents, schools, and media) have ignored these uninformed young people. The social-religious taboos keep us from being honest and teach teenagers exactly how to wisely undertake their sexual activity (if and when they decide to have sex). The result is they are unprepared for this critical aspect of life. And, we--the older folks--are largely to blame. Sex is a very important part of life. Important enough for young people to learn to take charge of their own lives and use the knowledge they need for a good life.
This avoidance of explicit sexual guidance by almost everyone--this burying our heads in the sand--results in young people feeling that it is more acceptable if they have sex by "falling in love" and getting unexpectedly "swept away" by overwhelmingly intense sexual urges. (This way they can keep their minds pure and innocent--"like good girls"--as long as possible and avoid the responsibility for what happens.) But, if they plan for sex (by getting and using a contraceptive), then intercourse might be considered less romantic and spontaneous or more sinful. They might even feel "planned" sex is less loving and more unnatural, cheap, or immoral, sort of like "using someone for self-gratification." In truth, the most loving sex is when you avoid unwanted stresses of all kinds, including pregnancies, and make sex play comfortable, safe, meaningful, and satisfying --one of life's great moments. These things don't happen without planning and preparation.
The most common reasons for not using a contraceptive are "I didn't expect to have intercourse" (20%) and "I wanted to use something but couldn't" (8%), according to Zelnik and Kantner (1979). The same authors report that only 36% of whites and 22% of blacks had been using contraceptives (obviously only part-time) before their unwanted pregnancy occurred. Furthermore, while teenagers and college students are having more sex, they are, in recent years, using more unreliable contraceptive methods. Fewer are using the pill (37% of blacks, 15% of whites), about the same use condoms sometimes (35%) |
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