A recent study done by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University found that nearly one in five students of students between the ages of twelve and seventeen do drugs, drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes during the school day.  Additionally, nine of ten high school students know at least one person who uses during the day, and almost half know a student who sells drugs at school.

Private schools are not exempt any more, with more than half of private school students stating that their schools are “drug-infected”, meaning drugs are sold at school.  And social media is rife with peer pressure and clever drug advertising.  Teens admit that pictures of others partying with drugs and alcohol come across as a good time, and it can make them crave the same kind of partying.

Experts say they are not surprised that kids are using more frequently in an environment where they are surrounded by their peers.  So what can be done about it?  More law enforcement?  Have cops patrol schools throughout the day?  Certainly, school faculty should be more aware of such happenings, but considering more teens start drinking and smoking cigarettes and marijuana in June and July than any other month, this may not be a solution.

You may be surprised to know that the number one reason kids give for not wanting to be caught using drugs is that they don’t want to disappoint their parents.  Research has shown that teens who consistently learn about the risks of experimenting with drugs and alcohol from their parents are half as likely to ever try them.  Yet only three in ten teenagers report learning about this stuff from their parents.

Signs Of Drug Use With A High School Student

So how do you know if your child is using drugs?  Watch for the following signs:

•    Changes in friends
•    Declining grades or frequent absences from school
•    Changes in conversations with peers, including coded language
•    Increased secrecy about possessions
•    Changes in clothing, especially clothes that highlight drug use
•    Use of air freshener or incense to hide smoke or chemical smells
•    Increase in borrowing money
•    Evidence of use of inhalant products such as hairspray, nail polish, white out and other common household products
•    Bottles of eye drops, which may be used to cover up bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils
•    New use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol
•    Missing prescription drugs

Some of these signs are typical behavior for a teenager, so the best thing to do is talk to your child in a non-accusative manner, providing a safe environment for him to come clean.

How To Handle The Problem With High School Students

Experts are considering this a public health issue rather than a behavioral one.  A person’s brain is still developing into his twenties, so entering in drug and alcohol use during these tender years can be disastrous.

It is also important to know that if you find out your teenager is using drugs you cannot wait to get them help. Some parents will justify their teens behavior and pass it off as “experimentation” or “growing pains.” Left unhandled a drug addiction will only get worse and one could lose their teen as a result.

Narconon provides real solutions to both drug prevention and rehabilitation for those in need. For more information on services from Narconon contact us today at 800-468-6933.

Ref: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/23/annual-survey-finds-17-pe_n_1824966.html