Nine percent of teenagers have experienced major depression, according to a government study.
Major depression was considered a period of at least two weeks that included a loss of interest, depressed mood and at least four other symptoms such as a change in sleeping, eating or concentration.
Depressed teens are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.
“Depressed teens are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.”
Hmmmm - is that an effect… or a cause?
I would guess some of both. Recall the rate of drug use is not astronomically different between depressed and non-depressed teens:
About 28 percent of depressed teens used alcohol, while nearly 23 percent smoked cigarettes and another roughly 21 percent used drugs.
Among those who did not report a major episode, about 17 percent drank alcohol, about 11 percent smoked, and about 10 percent used drugs.
I just heard Dr. Dean Edell mention old studies that showed teens who used marijuana having higher grades than those who didn’t–so they quit conducting studies of that type. I think his point was that it’s hard to generalize. No, I don’t know where to find the studies.
Marijuana does not usually cause depression although, studies to the contrary, I think it can cause the infamous amotivational syndrome. Crank, however, is a different story. And it’s not unusual for depressed individuals to medicate themselves. Bottom line is that it’s often hard to tell which comes first, the depression or the dope.
Oh, pot makes me VERY depressed, which is why I usually won’t touch the stuff.
But anyway… 9% having “major depression” sounds about right to me. Basically, one in 10 kids are extremely unhappy much of the time.
I wonder what percentage of depressed teens would have been depressed if they attended a non-public school (or home/un school) that actually supported their personality?