

Teenage Drug Abuse
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, use of illicit drugs by teens remains high, owing to the growing popularity of marijuana, which is perceived by many young people as a safe substance. Their figures show that 18% of students in tenth grade and 22% of students in twelfth grade had taken cannabis in the last month, while 6.5% of twelfth graders used the drug daily(2). However, the problem isn’t just limited to marijuana use, with around 8% using the synthetic drug spice and 15% abusing prescription drugs. While use of cocaine is in decline among high school kids, use of hallucinogens like LSD and magic mushrooms, MDMA, methamphetamine and heroin remain fairly steady, though these are typically used by less than 4% of students. Even though schools are perceived as a safe place for kids, it is important to be aware that despite the strong efforts of educational establishments to keep their premises free from drugs, your children may be exposed to illegal drugs in schools. In fact, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance report highlighted that 22% of children in grades 9 to 12 were offered or sold drugs at school(3).Pre-teens Are also at Risk of Drug Abuse
While older teens are more likely to take drugs, experimentation isn’t just limited to high school drug use, as Government statistics show children of middle school age are also at risk of drug taking. For instance, the CDC report showed that 8.6% of students had tried marijuana before the age of 13. When ninth graders were questioned about their use of other drugs, 12.9% had previously used prescription items recreationally, 4.6% had tried cocaine, 4.6% had tried hallucinogens, 4% had tried ecstasy and 2.2% had tried crystal meth. As middle school drug use is also an issue this shows how important it is to talk with your kids about the dangers of drugs while they are still at elementary school.Dangers of Youth Drug Abuse
As in adults, there is always the risk of an overdose and substance abuse can also take its toll on the body, with the chance of damage to their vital organs increasing with long-term use. Young people who misuse drugs not only risk the adverse physical effects of these substances though, as they also risk their mental wellness and face a range of social problems linked to drug taking. As adolescents’ brains are not fully developed, your children are particularly susceptible to the impact that drug abuse can have on their brain, which may produce lasting effects, impacting on judgment, planning and their emotional responses(4). Teens who abuse marijuana are also more likely to suffer from mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, and their risk of developing schizophrenia in later life is greatly increased(5). Teen drug use additionally makes young people vulnerable to the following problems(6):- Making poor judgments, so teens are more likely to take unnecessary risks such as driving when high or having unprotected sex
- Poor performance at school, which may even result in some kids dropping out of high school
- A greater risk of problem drug use (such as Vicodin dependency and addiction as an adult, if they start taking drugs before the age of 18
Tackling Drug Abuse in Schools
Schools have an important role to play in educating young people about the dangers of substance abuse, which is why they run drug education programs. As the risk of teens taking drugs increases once they reach high school, it is important that schools address the issue during elementary and middle school, as well as during their years in junior high. Although some schools may adopt their own curriculum for drug education, two of the programs for which there is evidence are used nationwide by educational establishments. These are Drug Abuse Resistance Education’s “Keepin’ it REAL” program and the Life Skills Training Program. Although DARE’s original drug education for youth program, which ran from 1983 to 2009, was the country’s most popular scheme, the program was not effective at reducing rates of teenage drug addiction. However, in recent years revision of the program’s curriculum has led to a much more effective style of delivery, which takes the focus away from fact-intensive lectures and instead uses interactive sessions designed to enhance smart decision making(7). Working in small groups kids learn how they can say no if offered drugs using a range of strategies. The new 10 week program was originally designed for use with seventh grade students, but is now rolled out to those in fifth and sixth grade as well. Research has since shown that participants in the Keepin’ it Real program are less likely to use marijuana and among those already involved in teenage substance abuse, the new DARE program cuts rates of use by 72% more than in kids who don’t take part in the program. Meanwhile, the Life Skills Training Program (LSTP), which is available for children of elementary, middle and high school age, also aims to look beyond the dangers of substance misuse. Through the program students develop skills to resist peer pressure, enhance their self-esteem and confidence, develop positive coping strategies for issues such as anxiety, and to choose healthy behaviors. Through these substance abuse prevention programs research shows that students are 75% less likely to use marijuana, 68% less likely to use crystal meth and 66% less likely to use a range of other illicit drugs(8).Talking to Your Kids about Drug Use


Recognizing Signs of Drug Abuse
Although it is important to talk to your children early about substance misuse, even if you have discussed the subject openly with them it is important to remain vigilant for the signs that they may be taking drugs. This can include changes in their physical and mental health, as well as social signals that they are abusing drugs like xanax to improve their mood(10, 11):- Altered movement and co-ordination
- Bloodshot eyes
- Significant changes in appetite (Possibly a sign of marijuana use)
- Experiencing mood swings, anxiety, low mood or irritability
- Difficulty sleeping or having more or less energy than usual
- Spending less time with you and their friends
- Giving up interests they previously enjoyed
- Missing school or experiencing a fall in their grades
- Getting into trouble at school or breaking the law
Resources
1. Cathy Payne, “Parents can prevent teens’ substance use despite doubts,” USA Today, May 25 2013, accessed October 20 2014 2. “High school and youth trends,” National Institute on Drug Abuse, accessed October 20 2014 3. “Youth risk behavior surveillance – United States, 2013,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, accessed October 20 2014 4. “Effects of tobacco, alcohol and drugs on the developing adolescent brain,” Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, accessed October 20 2014 5. “Adolescents and marijuana,” University of Washington, accessed October 20 2014 6. “Addiction in adolescents,” University of Houston Clear Lake, accessed October 20 2014 7. “The new DARE program – this one works,” Drug Abuse Resistance Education, accessed October 20 2014 8. “Life skills training – top rated substance abuse prevention program,” Botvin Life Skills Training, accessed October 20 2014 9. “Talk to your kids about tobacco, alcohol and drugs,” Health Finder, accessed October 20 2014 10. “Recognizing drug use in adolescents,” Boston University, accessed October 20 2014 11. “Substance abuse/chemical dependence in adolescents,” University of Rochester, accessed October 20 2014 12. Dr. Patrick J. Hart, Psychotherapist Image Credits: https://bit.ly/1rwCzZm | https://bit.ly/19uwit3 | https://bit.ly/1FRvVrl
Get the Support You Need
Call 267.719.8528
Call 267.719.8528
“From the moment you walk through the door you are made to feel like family. You are no longer alone. The clinicians have a way of making you comfortable enough to talk about anything.” -George E.
“The staff at STR is as first class as they come. It’s nice to have people who genuinely care about their clients…” -Robert D.
“StR has changed my life. What an amazing experience to have. The staff is amazing and I couldn’t ask for a better place to just be ME.” -Tiffany W.