If you believe latest research, you can forget everything you've heard about how drug use is the result of complex mix social and biological drives.
News.com.au report that researchers at the University of California San Diego and at Harvard University have found a link between a lack of sleep and the likelihood of illegal drug use, which can spread through a teen network "like a contagion", infecting siblings, friends and acquaintances as many as four degrees' separation removed.
The researchers mapped the sleep patterns and drug use of more than 8000 teenagers.
They found that a teenager with one friend who sleeps fewer than seven hours is 11 per cent more likely to sleep fewer than seven hours.
Teenagers with a friend who uses marijuana - the most popular drug among US adolescents - are more than twice as likely to use pot themselves.
The researchers also said teenagers with a friend who sleeps less than seven hours per night are 19 per cent more likely to use marijuana.
The study said the spread of poor sleep habits from one teenager to another was partly to blame for an increased likelihood of drug use.
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Polite Society
almost 2 years ago
Has this site stopped getting articles?
Please keep it up. It's a great idea, even if the user base didn't really keep up.
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Polite Society
almost 2 years ago
May I suggest that someone should do an article on the lack of mdma on the street, and the negative/postive effects that has had on the club and festival scene.
Personally I find that people have gotten very aggressive in the scene over the last 6 months. I suspect that instead of not taking drugs, alot of people have moved from mdma onto other more available drugs such as cocaine, speed and meth, which could account for the aggressiveness. Some actual research and or polls might prove enlightening though, as opposed to my speculations.
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Polite Society
almost 2 years ago
By the way, your commenting system might need editing. I don't notice the preview/create system half the time, and leave the page after hitting preview, not realising i need to hit create as well.
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Marianne
almost 2 years ago
Hey Polite Society. Apologies for the radio silence - yes.we're still here! and have new content ready to go! This includes brand spanking new fact sheets on ketamine and mephedrone.
Love your idea for a blog post too.
Thanks for the tip re the commenting system. I agree - it's confusing!
Thanks for your encouragement :)
Marianne
BTL Manager
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Jess
almost 2 years ago
Sleep affects drug use...hhmmm.... I'm wondering if it's possibly the other way around?? Perhaps people who use drugs generally sleep less? Or drugs affect sleep patterns? This is all seeming a bit mysterious to me. In saying that, I definately think that drug use is 'contagious'. I've never heard of anyone trying a drug by themselves. Opportunity leads to tempation.
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