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Did You Know

2024 August

SCHOOL CHILDREN, TEENS, & DRUGS

Research has demonstrated that “a significant proportion of parents are unaware of their child’s alcohol (30%) and substance use (50%) problems” (Green et al 2011). This is reflected in the lack of concern voiced by parents surveyed by the Pew Research Center, which demonstrate that 47% of parents are not worried about their child having problems with drugs or alcohol (Pew Research 2023)

Yet, the number of overdose fatalities in teens is on sharp rise despite decreasing drug use among teens, according to Monitoring the Future, which for the past 30 years has studied the changes in the beliefs, attitudes, and behavior of young people in the United States. 

Indeed, the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey’s research shows that the lifetime prevalence of illicit drug use (sans marijuana) has declined from 18.8% in 2012 to 11.3% in 2023. Prevalence of use in the past 30 days shows a similar pattern, dropping from 8.2% in 2012 to 4.2% in 2023.

Yet predictors of adolescent substance abuse remain high among teens in Florida.

  • A high level of trauma, as indicated by the presence of four or more adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), was reported by 18.4% of Florida high school students. White students, female students, and low SES students the most impacted.
  • Mental health issues, another risk factor for developing substance use disorder, impacted 1 in 3 students  32.4% students reported that during the past 12 months they felt sad or hopeless almost every day for two or more weeks (one symptom of clinical depression). 14.4% reported seriously considering suicide and 12.3% reported making a suicide plan.

Is your interest piqued? Do you want effective ways of communicating with your child or teen? Are you hoping an expert can answer your questions or model having these sensitive conversations with our children?

Join us and our esteemed panelists for LTB’s Back to School Webinar, August 22, 1pm – 2 pm. We will dive into the data, plus answer all those questions you most want answered when it comes to talking about drugs with children and teens.

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