Coalition News

Office of Research and Data Analysis, ONDCP

August 4, 2010

In the next few weeks, more than 12 million teenagers will head back to school, carrying their parents' hopes and expectations of a successful academic year. Each new school year brings new challenges, new friends, new social situations, and new risks to teens' success and well-being. And that includes drugs, both illegal and legal.

Drug use among teens puts them at risk for school failure as well as for an array of other health, social, and legal consequences. Students with higher grades are significantly less likely to have engaged in behaviors such as using marijuana, drinking alcohol, or taking prescription drugs without a doctor's prescription. While in recent years teen drug and alcohol use has remained flat, in any given day more than 4,000 teens will use an illegal drug for the first time, nearly that many will smoke a cigarette for the first time, more than 7,500 will drink alcohol for the first time, and nearly 2,500 will use a prescription pain reliever for the first time without a doctor's prescription. Current use of marijuana is comparable to that of cigarettes among 8th, 10th and 12th graders. And in recent years, girls have caught up with boys in their drug use, and actually exceed their male peers in use of prescription drugs without a prescription. A special concern is that teens' perception of the harm of drug use, especially marijuana, is softening, which generally predicts higher drug use rates in the future.

Summer is the peak time of year for first use of drugs, when most students are away from school. So many students will be returning to class with more drug experience, either directly or indirectly, through friends' use. Parents, teachers, and other school officials should be mindful of this as teens return to school grounds and classrooms in the weeks ahead.

Why do teens begin to use drugs? For many reasons, including to "fit in" to new social situations, including the school setting. Many teens overestimate the proportion of their peers who use drugs, thus leading them to the mistaken idea that they really need to use to become socially acceptable. Other reasons that teens use include experimentation, to become "more adult," and for self-medication, to cope with stress and trauma.

Many parents believe they are powerless to influence their teens, yet research reveals that parents remain the single most powerful influence in their lives. Further, quality drug education in schools and well-designed after-school activities can reduce the risk that teens will get into drugs. Yet parents remain the first line of defense.

Parents should know the warning signs of possible drug use, which include skipping classes or not doing well in school, significant mood changes, loss of interest in personal appearance, a change in friends, heightened secrecy about actions or possessions, or lack of interest in activities.

Parents and other caring adults can learn more about their risks of specific drugs, and what to do to reduce the chances their teen will becoming involved with drugs or alcohol, at the ONDCP Media Campaign's website, www.theantidrug.com.