Know! Transition Increases Risk
While there is much excitement about the start of a new school year, there may
be much apprehension and anxiety as well. This may be especially so for youth
entering into their first year of middle or high school, and for adolescents of any
age transitioning to a new school (due to a move or a number of other reasons).
The thought of unfamiliar faces, new teachers and coaches, increased academic
and athletic expectations, lockers that possibly won’t open and sharing hallways
with older students – the risk for first day jitters is at an all-time high. But there is
another “risk” factor that increases during such times of transition as well – the
risk for the onset of substance use.
Middle school is the time when substances like alcohol, cigarettes and possibly
marijuana, tend to make their first appearance. According to the 2016 Monitoring
the Future (MTF) study, by 8th grade, 23% of students drank alcohol, 10%
smoked cigarettes, and 13% used marijuana. As young people progress
into high school, the risk for use of these particular substances, and others,
grow significantly due to an increase in access and availability, drug use by
upper classmen and an increase in substances being used at social activities.
To compare, among 12th grade students, 61% drank alcohol, 28% smoked
cigarettes and marijuana use had more than tripled, with 45% having used in the
past year.
It is also important to note that among high school seniors, the MTF study
showed the use of small cigars (16%) and prescription drugs (12%) to be
significant.
When it comes to the reasons young people give for drinking, smoking and
using other drugs, not much has changed over the years. Teens use in an
attempt to:
• ease anxieties;
• loosen up at social gatherings;
• relax when stressed or to “stop feeling” when sad or depressed;
• fit in or give in to peer pressure;
• improve academic or athletic performance;
• lose weight or gain muscle;
• and of course some teens use simply to get high, take a risk or satisfy their
curiosity.
What has changed over the years, according to the MTF study, alcohol, tobacco
and drug use among teens declined significantly in 2016, and have hit their
lowest rates since the 1990s. In looking at the percentage of students still
drinking and smoking, however, we see that there remains work to be done.
Parents are the first line of defense in the prevention of substance use among
youth; and while it may seem very basic, here are some things you can do to
protect your child, regardless of age or grade level:Include these items on your Back-To-School To-Do list:
1. Be active and supportive in your child’s daily life.
2. Ask questions about substance use and reinforce non-use messages.
3. Make clear your expectations and consequences for breaking rules.
4. Know where your child is and who they are with at all times.
5. Make sure young people are being monitored when hanging out together. For
times you are not
physically present, check in with them regularly.
6. Keep an eye on your child’s social media activities.
In general, middle and high school youth are interested in gaining
independence, trying new things and taking some risks – all normal aspects of
development. Unfortunately for some, these normal aspects of development
may increase the tendency to experiment with substances. Being there for them
and having regular and ongoing conversations about the dangers of substance
use can and does go a long way toward keeping them safe, healthy and drugfree.
For the full report from the 2016 Monitoring the Future, click here.
Sources: How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid: The Straight Dope for Parents. Joseph
A. Califano, Jr., 2009. Monitoring the Future: Press Releases: Teen use of any
illicit drug other than marijuana at new low, same true for alcohol. Montoring the
Future: Publications: National Survey Results on Drug Use 1975 – 2016.
Know! is a program of: Click here to print a PDF of this article so you can start
a conversation with your child Visit
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017