Adolescents: smoking riskier than drugs.

• Position: Substance Abuse - Brief article

Adolescents across all age groups perceive a greater risk to smoking cigarettes than the use of alcohol and other substances, including cocaine and LSD, according to a report based on a national survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Washington, D.C. An individual's perception of risk about a substance can be a key factor concerning whether he or she decides to refrain from using.

"We are on the right track with cigarette smoking and need to keep raising awareness among teens about the dangers of other substances," says SAMHSA administrator Pamela S. Hyde. "Understanding that perception of harm is a strong predictor of potential substance use among young people can help guide the development of substance prevention messages."

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The survey found that, although the perception of risk in terms of cigarette smoking remains relatively constant among all adolescent groups, the perception of risk associated with other types of substances varies considerably by gender...