Facts of Life
Parents who forbid their daughters to date older boys are wise, after all. A study published Aug. 19 by Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse shows that teen-age girls who associate with older boys are more likely to smoke, drink and use drugs. The survey of 1,000 teens also found that young people welcome their parents' guidance. Asked in the telephone survey what they wished they could “honestly discuss with parents at dinner,” 42% said dating and 30% said substance abuse.