Teen violence

Teens who use drugs are twice as likely to engage in violent behavior. The National Drug Contol Policy also stated that about one-third of public high school (37%) and middle school principals (31%) report gang activity in their schools. By age 17, one-in-twelve teens (8%) report ever belonging to a gang. The report also states the following:

– Teens who use drugs, particularly marijuana, are more likely to steal
and experiment with other drugs and alcohol, compared to teens who
don’t; — One in four teens (27%) who used illicit drugs in the past year report attacking others with the intent to harm;

— Nearly one in six teens (17%) who got into serious fights at school or
work in the past year report using drugs;

— Teens who use marijuana regularly are nine times more likely than teens who don’t to experiment with other illicit drugs or alcohol, and five times more likely to steal; and

— Teens who do abstain from drug use, particularly marijuana use,
function better than users during the transition to young adulthood.