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Substance abuse in teens is an ongoing reality in the United States. Close to 5 million American adolescents suffer from a substance abuse or alcohol use disorder. Here are 10 facts you might not know about teenage drug abuse.
1. Nearly half of college students use illicit drugs.
2. Teen drug use is common among college students. In 2016, 45 percent of male college students and 42 percent of female college students used an illegal drug.
3. There is a clear link between depression and substance abuse. Mental health professionals who work with teens observe the link between depression and substance abuse in teens on a daily basis. They know from interacting with teens how closely mental health and substance use are related. However, researchers are now exploring this connection, too. Consequently, they have discovered that “negative urgency”—taking risks during times of extreme negative emotion—is the mechanism that links symptoms of depression with teen drug use. A study that surveyed 476 adolescents found that emotional vulnerability increases the likelihood of trying a variety of drugs in early adolescence. “Depression levels are associated with lifetime use of a variety of substances in early adolescence, and targeting this risk factor with preventive efforts may be useful in reducing risk,” the researchers concluded. In other words, teaching children how to regulate their emotions, as well as addressing teen depression at the first signs of trouble, may keep kids from trying drugs.