With the release of new 2011 teen drug abuse statistics by the Center on Addiction and Substance Abuses at Columbia University, the numbers show drug abuse is rising among teens after having been in a state of decline over the past 10 years. These new findings of the 2011 teen drug abuse statistics indicate that more teens are turning to marijuana, underage drinking and abusing other addictive drugs and substances as a way to cope with stress. Many teens in the study reported having an abundance of stress in their lives, which is why they turn to drug use as a coping mechanism.
Teen drug abuse statistics clearly indicate drug abuse is rising among teens. In fact, the number of teens reported using marijuana is at 39 percent, up from 32 percent. The number of teens using Ecstasy as a party drug is also up from six percent to 10 percent. The biggest problem with teens doing these drugs and other addictive substances like tobacco, cocaine and alcohol at such a young age is that addiction takes stronger roots during a person’s adolescence. To stop the addiction and drug abuse trend from continuing to rise, it is important to talk to your children and teens about the dangers of drug use.
Many teens might not fully understand the risks to their health and futures they are taking when they begin sampling drugs at a young age. They may not fully understand the risk at becoming addicted to the drugs or alcohol use. This is especially true for teens since the teen brain is not fully developed, the chances of addiction are even greater. According to the new 2011 teen drug abuse statistics, about 75 percent of the teens admitted to trying drugs or alcohol before the age of 18. Out of those numbers about one in three teens are currently showing signs of addiction to an addictive substance like tobacco, alcohol, cocaine and other drugs, as demonstrated in the 2011 teen drug abuse statistics.
With drug abuse rising among teens, this is clearly something that needs to be taken care of now before these numbers continue to grow. With the responsibility of prevention weighing heavily on the parents of these teens, it is important for parents to look for the teen drug abuse warning signs early. Hopefully early treatment and prevention methods will help to decrease the likelihood that their teen will become a life-long addict that struggles with their addiction throughout their life.
Taking addiction into their adulthood is something that will affect just about everything in their life from jobs to education and relationships. Addictions to drugs and alcohol make it difficult to be successful as an adult in just about every aspect of ones life. This is why it is so important for parents to not be afraid to talk to their kids about the dangers of drugs. Be realistic and lay out all of the details on the line to them. Monitor their activities and ensure you know what kinds of activities they are involved with as well as their friendships with other teens. Playing an active role in your child’s life is a proven way to help prevent them from underage drinking, trying drugs and other illegal substances. Making efforts early is one of the best ways from stopping this drug abuse rising trend among teens.
