As a child of the 70s, who witnessed the proliferation of marijuana, I still have to admit I am stunned by a very recent University of Michigan study. Do you know what they seem to have discovered?

Sit down! According to the study, the percentage of high school students who smoke marijuana is greater than those who smoke tobacco! Holy, crud – does America have a weed problem or whatjQuery15209949025802779943_1324157222492

Nearly 23 percent of 12th graders polled said they used marijuana over the last month, compared with 18.7 percent who said they smoked cigarettes.

Cigarette use is down among all three grades, dropping 60 percent during the last 15 years, according to the survey. Among 12th graders, 18.7 percent reported they smoked a cigarette during the past month, compared with 36.5 percent in 1997 – the most recent peak.

Binge drinking is also at a historic low among the combined grades surveyed, down from 41 percent five years ago to 22 percent this year. Binge drinking is defined as four drinks in one sitting for women, five for men.

Findings among 12th graders show that 36.4 percent used marijuana in the past year while 6.6 percent used it daily, up from 31.5 and 5 percent, respectively, from five years ago.

The reason why marijuana is becoming so popular is that the perceived risk is down.

Corresponding to the rise in marijuana use is the increased use of synthetic marijuana, which is often sold in drug paraphernalia shops, gas stations, or online. The drugs, also known as "spice" or "K2," contain chemical compounds that produce a high similar to marijuana when smoked.

This is the first survey that tracked synthetic marijuana; 11.4 percent of 12th graders reported abusing the drug during the past year.

The survey polled 46,773 students from 400 public and private schools across the US.

Even though I was one of the “stoners” in high school, I certainly was part of a much smaller group than those who loved to blow fags (smoke cigarettes or chew tobacco). This is an alarming trend, one that I also have witnessed in my classes as a counselor on for both in class and online drug education classes.

How are high school students like body builders? Both engage in highly-competitive fields and use performance-enhancing drugs. Yes, it is true!

Finals week is usually five days of utter dread and hours of seemingly endless bubbling. Some students crumble under the pressure. Others turn to illegal amphetamines like Adderall to speed through their tests.

What is the primary medication prescribed for kids with ADHD? – Adderall.

Approximately 9.5 percent of children 4- to 17-years-old have been diagnosed with ADHD. The biological origins of ADHD are not yet clearly understood, but in studies it has been shown that children whose close relatives have the disorder are more likely to be diagnosed with it.

Legal Meth

Adderall is seen by some as a legal Methamphetamine. The two drugs are relatively close in molecular structure. In fact, the only difference between the two is that Methamphetamines have Methyl in them. According to the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, the drug commonly known as “Meth” is just a much more potent version of the amphetamines in Adderall.

Around campus, students take Adderall and Ritalin in order to perform better on tests and in classes. “Adderall helps me want to actually do work, and when tests come around I buzz through them way quicker than I would if I wasn’t taking it,” said an anonymous student that uses Adderall without a prescription for studying.

The increased alertness and concentration caused by these prevalent drugs don’t come without side effects. “You feel really strung up and you can’t sleep at night because it keeps you up,” added the anonymous student. These side effects do not deter students that have become reliant on the drugs to help them study; abuse still continues.

Many such students are taking these focus-enhancing drugs without a prescription. Adderall and Ritalin are not over-the-counter, so it is illegal to take them without a prescription. Many teens hurdle this obstacle by purchasing all the pills they need from other students. Depending on the dosage, the two popular drugs sell in the halls for $5-15 a pill.

The common side effects of Adderall and Ritalin include trouble sleeping, loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and weight loss.

Selling Unused Adderall

Teens that don’t take their medications can sell the pills and pocket a few extra bucks while helping out another student with their workload. Many such teens see the transaction as a win-win situation. Some students that choose not to take their drugs get pressured to sell or give theirs away — even if they weren’t intending to sell them.

“People call me and text me a lot, especially before dances, asking me if they can buy Adderall and it’s hard for me to say no,” said the anonymous student.

Adderall is a heavily abused drug on campus and at home. According to adderallabuse.net, the drug has three different types of abusers. The first type of abuser is students that illegally use Adderall to study, because it helps them focus on their work for hours on end.

The second group of abusers is students that use the drug for social occasions because the Dextroamphetamine found in all “study drugs” gives some people a feeling of confidence, enhanced energy, and helps users stay awake for long periods of time.

Lastly, some abusers of Adderall use it for weight loss, because one of the usual side effects is appetite suppression.

Adderall can be a dangerous drug if not used under medical guidance. Please be careful. A good online drug class could also help educate you.