How concerned are you about teen drug and alcohol use and abuse? As a counselor for both in-class and online minor in possession classes and online drug classes, I should let you know that you should be very concerned.
The use of illegal drugs among children is a growing concern for all substance abuse treatment programs. As reported in www.fox11online.com.
It seems that drug counselors in high schools are getting more and more ninth graders coming in to see them with substance abuse issues.
Crazy as it may sounds, but illegal drug use is moving further into younger and younger age groups. Drug treatment facilities across the country are noticing more and more patients are skewing younger, sometimes starting drug use at the age of nine years old.
Marijuana remains popular with teens. But there also has been a sharp increase an increase in cough medicine and over the counter drugs. Reaching almost epidemic proportions are problems with prescription drug abuse and other prescription drugs.
25% - A Terrifying Number
According to a 2011 survey by the Centers for Disease Control, more than 25 percent of roughly 15,000 private and public high schoolers asked, admitted to having offered, sold or given an illegal drug by someone on school property.
That same study shows about 20 percent admitted to using pain killers, stimulants (like Adderall) or other mood altering drugs one or more times, without a prescription in 2009.
Every day sees more and more opportunity for youth to experiment with drugs. It is getting more difficult by the day to keep our children clean and sober. We must educate our youth that prescription medications are very dangerous. More drug classes are needed and a strong effort between parents and school administrators must be developed.