A new study indicates that young children with high IQs are significantly more likely to have done illegal drugs later in life, even when controlling for other factors. So you finally have a comeback when your dad says Why do you think they call it dope?!

The thing is, no one's quite sure why this is the case, though there are some theories:

Although it is not yet clear exactly why there should be a link between high IQ and illicit drug use, the authors point to previous research, showing that highly intelligent people are open to experiences and keen on novelty and stimulation.

Other research has also shown that brainy children are often easily bored and suffer at the hands of their peers for being different, "either of which could conceivably increase vulnerability to using drugs as an avoidant coping strategy," explain the authors.

Yes, indeed, it is possible that stupid children, constantly dealing with their own confusion about the world around them, are rarely bored enough to smoke weed. And, yes, it's true that many smart children are bullied, because they are huge nerds, and at some point might turn to drugs to deal with being total lamestains. But maybe it's that smart kids are quicker to recognize the hollow futility of existence, and turn to narcotics to cope with the all-encompassing nihilism that is the inevitable product of real intelligence? Or maybe it's just that drugs are awesome, man, and you need to be super smart to, like, really get them?

[ScienceDaily, image of future addict via Shutterstock]