According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and trying to relieve stress. Mental health challenges among teens, which have been increasing over the last decade, seem to significantly influence substance abuse. The study used data from 15,963 health assessments of 13- to 18-year-olds evaluated for substance
Read moreLast month, the National Institutes of Health released national survey results on teen drug use in 2023. Overall, the news was positive with 2023 data showing either stable or declining trends in the use of illicit substances among middle and high school students. However, at the same time that drug use is declining overall, it has become more dangerous. There
Read moreThe cultural perception of marijuana is that it is medicinal, natural, and not dangerous. Most consider it less addictive than many other illicit drugs and unlikely to create substantial impairment or behavior changes. These stereotypes likely have become more entrenched as many states legalize marijuana. While some of that is true, teen marijuana use has radically transformed in the decades
Read moreOver the last 10 years, the number of annual teen deaths from drug overdoses more than doubled. The increase is not coming from more teens using drugs, but rather from drug use becoming more dangerous. In 2021, fentanyl was involved in more than 77% of adolescent overdose deaths. In addition, the Office of National Drug Control Policy just declared an
Read moreTeenagers and risk seem to go hand in hand. As teens walk the path of becoming independent adults, exploring their limits and abilities is part of developing their identities. Risk-taking is an important way for teenagers to learn about themselves. It peaks at around 15-16 years and tends to tail off by early adulthood. While it’s very stressful for parents,
Read moreVaping is continuing to rise among youth. The Centers for Disease Control report that in 2021, 1 in 9 high school students said they had vaped in the past month. Two recent studies demonstrate the increases. Research from Columbia University found that the frequency of vaping cannabis among adolescents from all demographic groups is reported at six or more times
Read moreLast month, the Journal of the American Medical Association released a study reporting that adolescent overdose deaths in the United States have more than doubled over the past decade. Despite drug use among teens being at a historic low, the amount of fentanyl being sold to teens in the form of counterfeits of common medications is driving the spike. From
Read moreOur society has some strong stereotypes about the “type of parent” who raises a teen who is a troublemaker. Our culture implies that kind of kid must belong to a parent who doesn’t care or doesn’t spend enough time with their kid or is abusive or doesn’t make their child feel loved or is too permissive. And, the idea makes
Read moreIf your family has a history of addiction, your child will have an increased risk of developing one too. For example, research shows that children of alcoholics are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than other children. Addiction can be hereditary, meaning that the presence of certain genes in a person’s DNA can make them more likely to abuse
Read moreThe holidays are upon us, and many teens want to participate in parties or other social celebrations. It can be really hard to know how best to keep teens safe and healthy – both from COVID and from typical risky behavior – while still allowing them to enjoy time with their peers. With that in mind, here are some tips:
Read moreWhen teens behave badly, it can feel infuriating! Parents are bound to feel frustrated when their teen acts defiant, withdrawn, aggressive, or unmotivated. We might feel that our teen is ungrateful, entitled, disrespectful, or that he/she hates us. While these are perfectly natural reactions, we are missing an important key. Don’t guess or assume that your teen is acting out
Read moreThe coronavirus pandemic changed our lives in many ways, but one change that surprised researchers occurred in colleges across the country. College students altered their substance use last year. A recent study discovered that alcohol use among college students declined, while marijuana use increased. The “Monitoring the Future” study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), has been
Read moreThe pandemic has impacted almost everyone’s mental health in some way. American teens are no exception, and many in the public health sector worried how the loss of school, social activities, and milestone events might impact adolescent substance abuse. Reasons substance abuse might decrease. With teens spending more time at home during the pandemic, they have less opportunity to obtain
Read moreIn just one year’s time — between 2018 and 2019 — the percentage of high school seniors who reported vaping pot within the past month rose from 7.5% to 14%. This is particularly worrisome because vaping has been linked to more than 2,000 recent cases of severe lung illnesses called EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury). Most of these
Read moreSadly, our culture promotes drinking as a way to celebrate Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and other holidays. For example, you cannot find an advertisement or movie about New Year’s Eve that doesn’t include champagne glasses. Unfortunately, as our teens get older, they want to imitate what they see as the “fun way” to celebrate. Drinking alcohol is always a concern
Read moreVaping, the act of inhaling vapor produced by an electronic cigarette (or e-cigarette) or vaporizer, is very popular among youth. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in November 2018 that vaping had increased nearly 80% among high schoolers and 50% among middle schoolers since the year before. Teens like using e-cigarettes because they love the flavoring, it’s easy to
Read moreA national survey of adolescents (age 12-17) put out in 2019 by the Center on Addiction shows that parents are a very important influencer on whether teens will drink or use drugs. The survey did not ask teens directly about their own substance use, but asked about friends’ substance use—a risk factor for their own future use. Here are some
Read moreBinge drinking is defined as having four or more alcoholic drinks during a two- to three-hour period. Typically, someone who is binge drinking is not looking to just relax or have fun at a party; they are seeking the “high” of intoxication. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that almost 60% of high school students who drink alcohol
Read moreVaping is the process of using a battery powered device, usually called an e-cigarette, to heat a liquid into a vapor that can be inhaled. The vapor may contain nicotine (the addictive drug in tobacco), flavoring, and other chemicals, and is rapidly replacing traditional cigarettes as a way to smoke. E-cigarettes can also be used to smoke marijuana, hash oil,
Read moreApril is Alcohol Awareness Month, so it’s a great time to consider what information you should be giving your teen about the subject. Alcohol is the most commonly abused drug by American adolescents. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 11% of all alcohol consumed in America is by those between the ages of 12 and
Read more