High school kids are very vulnerable to experimenting with new things and because of this they are at an extreme risk of abusing drugs and addiction later on in life. There are all kinds of drug abuse statistics pointing to why they end up being abused and usually it has to do with many factors including past events, family, peers, and all of the other social factors and environment they are surrounded by. Here are a few interesting statistics about drug abuse.
According to the 2009 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey:
- Over 19% of surveyed high school students smoked cigarettes on at least one day the month before the survey.
- Over 8% of those students used smokeless tobacco.
- Over 24% of students had 5 or more drinks of alcohol in row during the 30 days before the survey.
- Over 20% used marijuana at least once the 30 days prior.
- Over 2% have used some form of cocaine in their lifetime.
- Over 11% have used inhalants like glue or spray cans in their lifetime.
This study of 9 – 12 graders shows us some interesting statistics. What can we gather from these stats? Well in my opinion we know that teenagers are going to experiment and try things out, the numbers show that. However, we need to focus more efforts on educating the youth on the dangers of drug abuse and how even trying it the first time can lead to addiction for some. The truth of the matter is that some teens are just more prevalent to addiction and drug abuse than others because of their environment and upbringing. If these children end up experimenting with drugs there is a chance they could continue their use and from there it is a slippery downhill slope.
Substance abuse treatment is not something that is fun or easy to go through. And for this reason, we need to teach the kids about what is involved with treatment and how there is no sure shot that an addict will ever recover or live a normal life. Abstinence from drugs is the only safe way to keep them out of treatment and keep them alive.
If you want more information about drug abuse statistics and any type of substance abuse, visit your local mental health services, health services administration, or ask a counselor in school. Please become involved in educating young ones about the dangers of alcohol and drugs before it is too late.