Ted Rall for March 22, 2017

Just like semuta, the narcotic music from Dune.

Lack of (pharmaceutical) drugs causes an increase in social mediation?

One addictive activity traded for another? Do humans ever have NO such addictions?

They are simply both expensive. However teens manage to come up with money, money spent on new electronics can not also be spent on drugs.

But Ted, correlation equals causation – if you like the conclusions. (Another reason why American schools desperately need to include critical thinking in their curricula).

It’s a puzzle, with myriad pieces. Thanks for making my brain work a little harder, if only momentarily.

Here, take your Soma… (the Huxley version)

The weed might smarten the kids up.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603951/this-is-your-brain-on-gps-navigation/

" …

In 1996, 13% of eighth graders reported using illicit drugs (besides marijuana) in the previous year; in 2016, it was 5%. For 10th graders the number went from 18% to 10%, and for 12th graders it went from 20% to 14%. The marijuana news isn’t all bad, either; over the same 20 years, use by eighth graders went from 18% to 9%, and by 10th graders from 34% to 24%. It’s in 12th graders that it hasn’t budged; it was 35% in 1996 and 36% in 2016.

…"

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/teen-drug-use-better-parenting-smartphones-2017032111403