The annual National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found a strong link between teens perceived risk of using a certain drug and their actual use of that drug.

"Adolescence is a period of significant developmental change when health patterns are being established. Decisions that youths make about tobacco and drug use can have both immediate and long-term health consequences for themselves, their families, and their communities." [Source: SAMHSA]

Based on the correlation between perceived risk and drug use, parents, teachers and anti-drug campaigns could make significant impacts in teen drug use by emphasizing the risks. The more teens are aware of, and believe in, the risks associated with  for example - heroin, cocaine or alcohol, the less likely they are to use.

Labels: causes_of_teen_substance_abuse

Posted By: Aspen/CRC 0 Comments

It's easy to find statistics about teenage drug use. It's also fairly easy to find tragic stories of teens that lost their lives, or ended up in prison, because of their addictions. The dangers of drug use are well-known, yet teens continue to get drunk, get high, and get addicted. Why?

"Life is often difficult for teenagers. When they're unhappy and uncomfortable with themselves and have neither a healthy outlet for their frustrations nor a trusted confidant, they may turn to chemicals for solace."

The media often makes drug use look much more prevalent than it actually is, making teens feel like it must not be "a big deal" if so many people are doing it. Teens who feel socially awkward, depressed, or ignored by their parents are also more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs. Read more at DrugFree.org.

Labels: addiction, media_influences, causes_of_teen_substance_abuse

Posted By: Aspen Education Group 0 Comments

Not being attached to school and family are predictors of alcohol abuse among adolescents, according to a study in the Journal of Counseling Psychology.

• Professors Kimberly Henry and Eugene Oetting of Colorado State University and her colleagues studied 1,064 middle school students for two years, keeping track of changes to their true or false answers to questions such as, "My family cares about what I do," "School is fun," and "My teachers like me."
• Those students who answered in a way that showed a lack of attachment to their families and schools were more likely to abuse alcohol. Another predictor of alcohol abuse was having friends who abuse alcohol.

"The study showed that the short time in junior high school is a time of Important changes for some individual adolescents," according to the report. "There are significant changes in family and school attachment and significant changes in association with alcohol-using peers. These within-person changes were accompanied by within-person changes in alcohol use."
 

Labels: alcohol_abuse, causes_of_teen_substance_abuse, families

Posted By: CRC Health Group 0 Comments

Kids are heading back to school soon.  And for some, the increased pressure to do well and “be popular” may prompt them to experiment with drugs.

Every change in grade level, coach, friend or teacher may also contribute to stress, which can lead to experimentation with alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, said Michelle Morse, communications director for Drug-Free Action Alliance.

Those most at risk are students who transition to new school buildings in middle school and high school, she said.

“We see that statistically speaking, the older a child gets the more exposure there is to alcohol and drugs,” she said. [Source: Journal-News]

Morse encourages parents to be involved in their kids’ lives, know their friends, and know what they’re doing after school.

Labels: schools, students, causes_of_teen_substance_abuse

Posted By: Stefanie Hamilton 0 Comments