Smart teens are twice as likely to smoke cannabis

According to a 9-year study by the’University College London (UCL), intelligent teenagers are twice as likely to use cannabis, due to their inquisitiveness.

The experts examined data from over 6059 young people from 52 state schools in England. And found that the most intelligent children are less likely to smoke cigarettes, but more likely to smoke cannabis.

There are several reasons for this:

• Cognitive abilities are often associated with a spirit of experimentation, which may encourage the most gifted children to experiment with alcohol or cannabis.
• The smartest kids might also be more honest when asked about their use, or have more relationships with older teens who have more access to cannabis
• Their parents may also be more concerned about the health effects of cigarettes than cannabis.

Data was collected from the children's school results at age 11. Their «health behaviors» (smoking, drinking) were then documented between the ages of 13 and 17, and again between 18 and 20.

Between the ages of 18 and 20, the most gifted children were also twice as likely to drink alcohol regularly as the least gifted.

Dr James Williams of UCL tells the Telegraph that these risky behaviors present «a major public health problem. Substance use is a risk factor and a long-term health problem. The results of cannabis use worsen with early and frequent use.»

However, he adds that today's teenagers are less likely to smoke cannabis and drink alcohol than they were in the past.