{"id":17886,"date":"2024-08-31T18:46:09","date_gmt":"2024-08-31T17:46:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/?p=17886"},"modified":"2024-10-05T15:22:20","modified_gmt":"2024-10-05T14:22:20","slug":"teen-substance-use-is-declining-but-more-dangerous-drug-abuse-is-emerging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/2024\/08\/teen-substance-use-is-declining-but-more-dangerous-drug-abuse-is-emerging\/","title":{"rendered":"Teen Substance Use Is Declining, But More Dangerous Drug Abuse Is Emerging"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By\u00a0Lauraine Langreo<\/a>, Staff Writer<\/a>,\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Education Week<\/a><\/span> \u2014 August 28, 2024 <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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There have been \u201cpromising\u201d declines in high school students\u2019 overall use of illicit substances, concludes a report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n

Since 2013, the percentage of students who reported drinking alcohol, using marijuana, or using select illicit drugs at any point has decreased. Since 2017 and 2019, respectively, the percentage of students who had ever misused or currently are misusing prescription opioids decreased, according to the CDC\u2019s Youth Risk Behavior Survey.<\/p>\n

That survey draws on data collected every two years among a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school students. The 2023 survey had more than 20,000 respondents and was conducted in the spring.<\/p>\n

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Still, many students continue to use substances and the lack of progress in some areas is concerning, according to the report.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The findings come as schools continue to face\u00a0challenges in curbing students\u2019 substance abuse<\/a>, which could negatively affect learning, memory, and attention, according to experts. It could also be a sign of mental health challenges.<\/p>\n

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Teen substance use<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Percentage of high school students who ..<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

*Question introduced in 2017.
\n**Question introduced in 2019.<\/p>\n

DATA SOURCE: CDC<\/p>\n

____________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

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While student substance abuse isn\u2019t a new challenge for school districts, the substances that adolescents are experimenting with now are much more dangerous, said Darrell Sampson, the executive director of student services for the Arlington public schools in Virginia.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily that more kids are using substances than in prior years,\u201d Sampson said. \u201cIt\u2019s the lethality of the substance itself that has caused higher levels of concern.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Research has shown rising overdose deaths<\/a>\u00a0among teens even as their substance use is declining. Those deaths have been linked to the increase in illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. School districts have been pursuing\u00a0several strands of legal action<\/a>\u00a0against companies that manufactured and marketed addictive opioids that have led to tens of thousands of deaths and countless more addiction struggles in the last two decades.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Beyond the legal actions, schools also continue to provide prevention and education programming for students and families, Sampson said. There\u2019s \u201ca glimmer of hope\u201d that those measures are working, he said, based on the declines in the CDC data.<\/p>\n

Experts recommend starting education about substance abuse as early as possible<\/h2>\n

In the Arlington, Va., district, students in grades 6 through 10 learn about substance abuse challenges as part of the health curriculum, Sampson said. The district has also slowly expanded that program to 5th and 4th grades and are looking into whether there\u2019s capacity to start that education as early as 3rd grade.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that the more we can at least open that conversation with our families and our students, the better off our students are going to be,\u201d Sampson said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just a message [they\u2019re hearing] starting in middle school, but it\u2019s a message [they\u2019re hearing] over time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The district is expanding programming with 11th and 12th graders, too, because the information they got when they were in 10th grade could be outdated by then, Sampson said.<\/p>\n

In addition, the district has substance abuse counselors who meet with students and try to explore the reasons they might be using substances, Sampson said.<\/p>\n

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Experts say it\u2019s also important to think about how to incorporate student voice in any prevention or intervention programming.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Teens are more than twice as likely to go to their friends or peers for help or support when experiencing distress from their substance use than they are to go to a behavioral health provider or a family member, according to\u00a0a survey from the Bipartisan Policy Center<\/a>\u00a0conducted in June among 932 teens (13- to 17-year-olds) and 1,062 young adults (18- to 26-year-olds). More than a quarter of teens said they didn\u2019t go to anyone for help or support when they experienced distress from substance use.<\/p>\n

Sophie Szew, a junior at Stanford University and the Bipartisan Policy Center\u2019s mental health and substance use task force youth adviser, said those survey results \u201creally underscore the importance of investing in those peer support networks and resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

______________________________________________________________________________________________<\/p>\n

Teenagers who have experienced distress from substance use<\/span><\/h1>\n

Who have teens gone to for help\/support when experiencing distress from substance use?<\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
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Category<\/strong><\/span>\u00a0Percent<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Friend\/peer\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a043<\/p>\n

Behavioural health provider\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a019<\/p>\n

Parent, care givers, other family members\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 18<\/p>\n

Primary care provider\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 9<\/p>\n

Religious\/spiritual leader\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a09<\/p>\n

School counsellor\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a08<\/p>\n

Teacher\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a06<\/p>\n

Coach\/mentor\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a06<\/p>\n

Crisis services (988, crisis text line)\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a05<\/p>\n

Virtual app or website services\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a04<\/p>\n

Other adult n the community\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a08<\/p>\n

Other\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a02<\/p>\n

No one\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 27<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Source: https:\/\/www.edweek.org\/leadership\/teen-substance-use-is-declining-but-more-dangerous-drug-abuse-is-emerging\/2024\/08<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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By\u00a0Lauraine Langreo, Staff Writer,\u00a0\u00a0Education Week \u2014 August 28, 2024 \u00a0 There have been \u201cpromising\u201d declines in high school students\u2019 overall use of illicit substances, concludes a report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Since 2013, the percentage of students who reported drinking alcohol, using marijuana, or using select illicit drugs at any […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29,68,62,119,19,61],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17886","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-alcohol","category-drug-use-various-effects","category-education","category-prevalence","category-usa","category-youth"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17886","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17886"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17886\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17886"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17886"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/drugprevent.org.uk\/ppp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17886"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}