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Substance Use and Abuse Among Adolescents

Substance use and abuse is common among middle school, high school, and college students. Statistics show lifetime, annual, and 30-day illicit drug use increases with each grade level. Many substances are abused including marijuana, alcohol, prescription drugs, cocaine, heroin, and others. Anyone can be susceptible to substance abuse regardless of demographics. Signs of abuse include changes in behavior, mood, attendance, and academics. Prevention and intervention is important and can be done through education, counseling, parental involvement, and addressing underlying causes like mental health issues, peer pressure, and family environment. Reducing substance abuse in youth impacts their health, safety, and academic success.

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sakshi agarwal
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113 views9 pages

Substance Use and Abuse Among Adolescents

Substance use and abuse is common among middle school, high school, and college students. Statistics show lifetime, annual, and 30-day illicit drug use increases with each grade level. Many substances are abused including marijuana, alcohol, prescription drugs, cocaine, heroin, and others. Anyone can be susceptible to substance abuse regardless of demographics. Signs of abuse include changes in behavior, mood, attendance, and academics. Prevention and intervention is important and can be done through education, counseling, parental involvement, and addressing underlying causes like mental health issues, peer pressure, and family environment. Reducing substance abuse in youth impacts their health, safety, and academic success.

Uploaded by

sakshi agarwal
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SUBSTANCE USE &

ABUSE AMONG
ADOLESCENTS

Grace Haltiwanger
Erika Motes
Users and Abusers
 Older Middle School Students
 High School Students

 Substance use and abuse are not racially,


ethnically, or gender specific: Everyone and
anyone is susceptible
Some Statistics
Illicit Drug 8th Grade 10th Grade 12th Grade
Use
Lifetime 21.5 39.8 51.1
Annual 15.5 31.1 38.8
30-day 8.4 18.3 23.4
What are illicit drugs?
 Inhalants  Cocaine, not Crack
 Prescription Drugs
 Ritalin
 Cigarettes/Nicotine
 Rohypnol  Alcohol
 Vicodin  Heroin
 OxyContin
 Marijuana
 Crack cocaine
 MDMA (Ecstasy)  PCP
 Methamphetamine  Amphetamines
 GHB and Ketamine
 LSD
 Tranquilizers
 Anabolic  Sedatives
 Methaqualone
What to Look for…
 Absenteeism  Some Physical Signs:
 Change in Behavior bruises and other marks
on arms or other vein-
 Change in Academic laden areas (neck, behind
Performance knees), bloodshot eyes,
 Problems controlling sniffling nose, dilated
mood and behavior pupils, etc.
 Neglected Physical
Appearance
 Weight loss
 Peer concern
Why might an adolescent use or
abuse illicit drugs?
 Escapism: family issues, low self-esteem, depression
or other mood disorders
 Recreation: pleasure-seeking
 Peer pressure
 Addiction
 Availability
 Heredity
 Family history, environment, influence
 …..OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF
What can YOU do?
MENTAL HEALTH SCHOOL COUNSELORS OR OTHER
SCHOOL PERSONNEL:
THERAPISTS:  Classroom guidance: “Dangers of Substance
Use”
 Assess need for in-patient  Faculty Presentation: “How to Spot…”
facility  Parent Workshops: “What to Know…”/”What to
Look for…”
 Assess necessity of referral  Individual Counseling
to substance abuse specialist  Referral to Outside Agencies: daniel, inc, Child
Guidance
 Look for “roots” of  “Red Ribbon Week” activities for entire school
 Motivational Speakers: “survivors,” treatment
problem: center counselor
No-Tolerance, Anti-Drug Campaign
heredity, family history, 
(Schoolwide)
mood disorder, peer  Chair Anti-Drug/Drug Education club
situation, etc.  Make sure Health teachers provide lessons on
the dangers of substance use and abuse
 Refer parents to Alcoholics Anonymous-Teens
Critical Data Elements to be Impacted by
Prevention/Intervention:

 Attendance
 Academics: All Elements
 School Climate
 Behavior
References
National Institute on Drug Abuse:
http://www.nida.nih.gov/index.html

Lambie, G. W., & Sias, S. M. (2005). Children of Alcoholics:


Implications for Professional School Counseling.
Professional School Counseling, 8, 266 – 274.

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