American teenagers and adults may be more likely to try drugs for the first time during the summer months. That was a finding from a new study. A report on the study was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. In all, 31% of young people and adults who use the drug cannabis tried it for the first time during the summer, the study found. Summer was also the starting season for around 30% of people who tried the drugs cocaine, LSD and ecstasy. Joseph Palamar is a researcher at the New York University School of Medicine and the lead author of the report. More research is needed to identify why summer might be a risk factor for people using drugs for the first time, he said. Palamar added that the link between the season and drug use may be related to people having more free time and to warmer weather, which is linked with more outdoor social gatherings.

It could be related to people having more free time.
nothing else to do
indoor parties
relaxed attitudes
more free time
When are people more likely to try drugs?
spring
summer
autumn
winter
What does risk factor mean?
increase chance of something
during the summer
more free time
for the first time