Summer–it’s an exciting time for teens. They can unplug the alarm clock, don flip flops, hang at the beach until their skin is crisp, and forget about tests and deadlines. Parents are often glad to give their children a break. One repercussion parents may not be aware of, however, is that summer is prime time for teens to try drugs for the first time.
According to a recent study by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, use of cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol by young adults for the first time has made a significant increase in recent years. More than 5,000 young adults try cigarettes for the first time on an average June or July day, compared to about 3,000 in other months. First-time alcohol use doubles, from 5,000-8,000 occurrences during the school year to 11,000 teens trying alcohol for the first time during the summer.
The only other month in which first-time substance use increases comparably is December.
The study is based on interviews from more than 230,000 teens from 2002 to 2012. While the statistics spike for alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, hallucinogens and inhalants, the study did not find a major increase in first-time cocaine use or abuse of prescription pain relievers.
Summer Drug Use Statistics
The average age for students to try cigarettes is 12; marijuana is 13 years old and alcohol is 14.
Signs of teen substance abuse include:
• The smell of alcohol on the breath, or sudden, frequent use of breath mints or gum
• Abrupt changes in mood or attitude
• Sudden decline in attendance or performance at school
• Losing interest in extra-curricular activities or things that used to be important
• Acting unusually withdrawn from family, friends or interests
• Increased secrecy about actions or possessions
• Associating with a new group of friends your child refuses to discuss
• Exhaustion
Marijuana use, particularly, can cause difficulty concentrating, impaired judgement leading to more frequent accidents, lower attention span, memory problems, trouble with physical coordination, and respiratory difficulties such as a daily cough and lung infections.
Young adults who abuse alcohol and marijuana in early adolescence are more likely to get involved in dangerous activities such as drinking and driving or driving while high. They typically return to school hooked on marijuana, and parents see a noticeable difference in grades because marijuana impairs learning and judgment. Students are more likely to skip class and be lenient about heavier drug use.
Young adults are less likely to get involved in drugs when they are kept busy in summer programs such as summer camps or community work. Statistics prove that teens are more likely to try drugs, tobacco or alcohol in an unsupervised environment, alone or with peers. Know where your child is and talk to him about the harmful effects of drugs.
Rehabilitation And Education Tools To Help With The Problem
There are many things that not only parents, but other important people in a teen’s life can do to prevent drug use. The first is having open communication with the teenager about drug use and the dangers of these substances. In addition to this the school should also provide effective drug education to those in need as well as other groups that the teen is a part of.
If a teen is already heading down the road to drug abuse and addiction they need to get immediate help. Rehabilitation exists to help those in need who are struggling. If the treatment is thorough and drug free it is very likely to produce permanent results for sobriety. However action needs to be taken as soon as the problem is known about as letting it go can only make things worse.
For more information on teen drug use during the summer or help through rehabilitation contact us today.