Drug use is common among all age groups, but there’s a special sense of risk when it comes to usage among young people. Teens haven’t yet had to face the responsibilities of the real world, and their more impressionable outlooks could result in serious issues at an early age.
Teen drug use is more common than you might think, and as a parent, it’s important that you take the time to get familiar with some teen drug abuse statistics. Learning about the reality of teen drug use can help prepare you for the reality your own children face.
What teen drug use statistics do you need to know? Read on and we’ll walk you through a few major ones.
1. Teen Drug Use Is Common
Think that the usage of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs is limited among the teenage generation? Think again.
Only 31% of teenagers graduate high school without having tried any sort of illegal substance. That means a resounding 69% leave the bounds of school having at least one interaction with drugs and alcohol.
As you can imagine, the popular usage of drugs and alcohol in high school means that many teens will have to face steep peer pressure when it comes to drinking or smoking.
It’s important not to pretend as if these things don’t happen because your teen is likely to know otherwise.
2. Early Usage Leads to Addiction
Did you know most people who end up with drinking problems later in life had a drinking habit early in their development? It’s true.
Those who start drinking before the age of 15 are more than six times more likely to have issues with alcohol later in their lives. This is a serious problem and not one that should be taken likely.
Alcoholism can lead to a great deal of pain and even death. Anything that can be done to prevent this kind of addiction cycle should be considered. If a teen already is facing an addiction problem, a service like eagleoverlookrecovery.com might be able to help.
3. Drinking Linked to Depression and Suicide
As you likely know, alcohol is a depressant. That means it can worsen existing mental brain chemistry issues, such as those that contribute to problems like depression.
This is true at any age, but as many teens struggle with depression and similar issues, they can be particularly at risk.
Drinking at a young age has been linked to depression and suicide time and time again. It’s important to understand this correlation when looking out for the well-being of your offspring.
Understand Teen Drug Use Facts
It’s easy to understand why teens use drugs, but many are not caught up with all the facts about what early-age drug use can really do. Abusing drugs and alcohol can lead just about anyone down a dangerous path.
Keeping the facts about teen drug use in mind can help you to educate and protect the teenagers in your life.
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