Not sure about grabbing that beer? You’re not alone. Americans are reaching for alcohol at record lows, according to a new Gallup survey.

The survey, out Aug. 20, found the number of Americans who say they drink alcohol sits at 54% for the second consecutive year − and health concerns appear to be a major factor.

“Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults now believe drinking one or two alcoholic beverages a day is bad for one’s health,” the survey results noted. “The figure is essentially unchanged from last year’s record-high 53%.”

In 2001, only 27% considered moderate drinking bad for one’s health, according to Gallup.

  • huey_m@piefed.social
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    24 hours ago

    Weed is legal in more places than ever.

    I will say from experience though that long term, chronic, heavy use of weed comes with its own problems, though. Probably not as bad as alcohol, but pretty unfun still.

    • stickyprimer@lemmy.world
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      18 hours ago

      I agree with this statement but looking back I have to admit that I’m not sure the chronics I knew were actually suffering the effects of their heavy weed use or if the heavy weed use was just comorbid with their other problems.

    • stickyprimer@lemmy.world
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      18 hours ago

      And like alcohol, people do respond to it differently. It’s not an amazing option for just anybody, even though it may be a wonder drug for some.

    • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
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      21 hours ago

      In Canada, we are seeing all kinds of cannabis syndromes in ER, with psychosis and schizophrenia on a steep rise. The problem is the dose, 60s weed had 2% THC, but shops sell very highly concentrated THC. Government won’t regulate it because the whole point of legal weed was to make investors rich.

      • UltraGiGaGigantic@lemmy.ml
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        13 hours ago

        Government won’t regulate it because the whole point of legal weed was

        That people should be free to do what they want with their own body.

        make investors rich.

        Sounds like you have an issue with capitalism, not drugs.

      • huey_m@piefed.social
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        21 hours ago

        I absolutely believe this and that was my unscientific conclusion as well; a lot of the previous study we have on the safety of cannabis is with comparatively very low THC amounts. Some of the new study isn’t so rosy, as I recall (though it’s been some years since I’ve looked at it). My experience after 10+ years of few issues was a very bad panic attack bordering on psychotic episode. Though it is much better a few years later, I still have issues with panic and dpdr I didn’t have before which were very crippling in the months after the event. I can’t really mess with weed anymore and encourage youngers to at least watch their THC intake.

        • SaveTheTuaHawk@lemmy.ca
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          21 hours ago

          With teens, there is very really effects of brain development. Also, despite what Reddit/Lemmy will tell you there are cannabis addicts. Canadian government admits to 5% of users, but the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health puts the number at 10-30%.

          • huey_m@piefed.social
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            20 hours ago

            Also, despite what Reddit/Lemmy will tell you there are cannabis addicts.

            Being one, you’ll get no disagreement from me. I can’t have just one, I’ll be stoned non stop until I run out. I tried starting with more healthy and measured use at least a half a dozen times… no dice. It’s binge until gone for me.

            It’s a bit more insidious than alcohol, because the impacts are less obvious in the short term imo, and there’s less acknowledgement it can be a problem because Bob Saget said a funny line once. It’s a slow burn.