Substance Abuse

Research shows that, among students in eighth to twelfth grades, majorities report they did not use alcohol, tobacco products, or illicit drugs during the past 30 days.  Students who are disengaged in school are more likely to be users. In contrast, students who plan on completing four years of college are much more likely to avoid using alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs.  For example, among eighth-graders, students with college plans are more than four times as likely as those without to be substance-free. 

Most students do not drink; however, those who do are likely to be “binge” drinkers—consuming large quantities of alcohol specifically to “get drunk.”  Binge drinking is associated with poor school performance, and involvement in other health risk behaviors, such as riding with a driver who has been drinking, cigarette smoking, sexual activity, being a victim of dating violence, attempting suicide, and using illicit drugs.  In 2010, nearly a third of all traffic deaths among young drivers ages 15 to 20 were alcohol-related.  Consuming larger quantities of alcohol is also associated a risk factor for cancer among young women with benign breast disease.  Among illicit drugs, marijuana is by far the most commonly used by young people.

Reducing rates of cigarette smoking among teens has been one of the greatest public health success stories of recent times.  However, some teens may not realize that more recently promoted forms of tobacco—such as small cigars, lozenges, or hookah pipes—carry health dangers equal to or greater than those associated with cigarettes.  

Office of Adolescent Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/adolescent-health-topics/substance-abuse/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Adolescent and School Health: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/alcoholdrug/index.htm