Comments on: Blue teens http://joannejacobs.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/ Free-linking and thinking on education by Joanne Jacobs Mon, 13 Oct 2008 23:09:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Indigo Warrior http://joannejacobs.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29397 Indigo Warrior Sat, 31 Dec 2005 20:24:42 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29397 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? 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?

]]> By: Dean Esmay http://joannejacobs.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29396 Dean Esmay Sat, 31 Dec 2005 03:12:09 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29396 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. 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.

]]> By: BadaBing http://joannejacobs.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29395 BadaBing Fri, 30 Dec 2005 21:59:15 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29395 Marijuana does not usually cause depression although, studies to the contrary, I think it <i>can</i> 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. 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.

]]> By: Bart http://joannejacobs.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29394 Bart Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:02:30 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29394 I would guess some of both. Recall the rate of drug use is not astronomically different between depressed and non-depressed teens: <i>About 28 percent of depressed teens used alcohol, while nearly 23 percent smoked cigarettes and another roughly 21 percent used drugs.</i> <i>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> 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. 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.

]]> By: jeff http://joannejacobs.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29393 jeff Fri, 30 Dec 2005 17:03:36 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2005/12/30/blue-teens/#comment-29393 "Depressed teens are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol." Hmmmm - is that an effect... or a cause? “Depressed teens are much more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol.”

Hmmmm - is that an effect… or a cause?

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