If you know and love a teen, or know someone who does, here are some facts for you.
More teens die from using someone else’s prescription drugs than from heroin and cocaine combined. In fact, 60% of teens who abuse prescription drugs get them free from friends and relatives.
For example, the use of Adderall, a common prescription for ADHD, is commonly shared among high school students to supposedly “enhance” their performance in school. Leftover pain medication in a family medicine cabinet is also a prime source for obtaining drugs. Always store medication in a safe place and dispose of unused, no longer needed prescription drugs.
· Twenty-eight percent of teens have consumed alcohol by 8th grade.
· In 2023, 3.3 million youth ages 12 to 20 reported binge drinking at least once in the past month.
· 15% of teens have smoked cigarettes and 16.5% have used marijuana prior to high school
· Less than 20% of high school seniors think occasional use of marijuana is harmful.
· Approximately 40-50% of high school seniors do not think it is harmful to try heroin, cocaine, or crack cocaine “just” once or twice.
However, teens who consistently discuss the risks of drug use with their parents are up to 50% less likely to use drugs than those who do not have such discussions. Honest, loving, ongoing conversations are the best thing you can do to change these statistics. Please make time to have them with your teens.
Pastoral Care Director,
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