Dating and drinking.

"The thunder of teen dating practices and sexual activity may signal the lightning of substance abuse": This is one key message stemming from results of an annual survey of 12-17-year-olds conducted by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Use) For the first time in its nine years, the survey explored the relationship between teenagers' dating practices and their risk of substance use. Among the findings: Higher proportions of teenagers who spend at least 25 hours a week with their boyfriend or girlfriend than of those who spend 10 or fewer hours drink (70% vs. 28%), get drunk (35% vs. 7%) and smoke cigarettes (45% vs. 17%). Two-thirds of youths who say that half or more of their friends are sexually active, compared with one in 10 other teenagers, drink; 31% and 1%, respectively, get drunk; 45% and 8% smoke. Female adolescents whose boyfriend is two or more years their senior are more likely to use substances than are their peers with no boyfriend or a boyfriend closer to their age. The lesson for parents, in the researchers' words, is "Make sure you are aware of the dating practices of your child and get to know your child's friends."

(1.) National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA), National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse IX: Teen Dating Practices and Sexual Activity, New York: CASA, 2004.