When Your Teen Is In Trouble With The Law

Drugs and Teen Substance Abuse

Drugs That Teens Abuse  -  Warning Signs

Treatment & Recovery

Counseling & Therapy  -  Self-Help & Support Groups

According to a recent report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a young person's average day often includes drinking, smoking, or using illicit drugs.

On an average day in 2006, about 1.2 million adolescents, age 12 to 17, smoked cigarettes, 631,000 drank alcohol, and 586,000 used marijuana.

In addition, about 49,000 adolescents used inhalants, 27,000 used hallucinogens (e.g., Ecstasy and other club drugs), 13,000 used cocaine, and 3,800 used heroin.

On an average day in 2006, nearly 8,000 adolescents drank alcohol for the first time; 4,300 used an illicit drug for the first time; 4,000 smoked their first cigarette; 3,600 smoked marijuana for the first time; and 2,500 used pain relievers for non-medical reasons for the first time.

In 2005 (the most recent data), more than 76,000 youth were in outpatient treatment; 10,000 in non-hospital residential treatment; and 1,000 in hospital inpatient treatment.

Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways.  Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common.  Unfortunately, teenagers often don’t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow.  They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience. 

Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later.  Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems.  Others will develop a dependency or addiction, often moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.

Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up, or to fit in.  It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems. 

Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those:

• with a family history of substance abuse

• who are depressed

• who feel like they don’t fit in or are out of the mainstream

NEXT: Drugs That Teens Abuse

Drugs That Teens Abuse  -  Warning Signs

Treatment & Recovery

Help, Support, Advocacy

Australian Drug Information Network ~ Comprehensive Australian and international alcohol and drug information.

Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse ~ Information and advice from Canada's national addictions agency.

DividedHeart.com ~ Online Christian community dedicated to overcoming addictive, out-of-control behaviors and inappropriate relationships, and healing from them whether you are struggling yourself or you are close to someone who is.

Join Together Online ~ National resource for communities working to reduce substance abuse by supporting efforts that advance effective alcohol and drug policy, prevention, and treatment.

National Asian Pacific American Families Against Substance Abuse ~ Addresses substance abuse issues of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations.

National Association for Christian Recovery  ~ Resources for Christians recovering from addiction, abuse, and trauma.

National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University ~ CASA brings together all the professional disciplines to combat abuse of all substances in all sectors of society through education, research, and advocacy.

National Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Information ~ For drug information and treatment, call 1-800-729-6686.

National Institute on Drug Abuse ~ NIDA, part of the National Institutes of Health,  supports over 85 percent of the world's research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction.

National Inhalants Prevention Coalition ~ Inhalant referral and information clearinghouse, provides information and training, and offers toll-free helpline, 1-800-269-4237.

Recovery USA ~ A collection of online stores specializing in addiction, spirituality and health recovery.

Scott Newman Center ~ Drug abuse prevention through education.  Offers the Rowdy Ridge Gang Camp, which treats mothers and children whose lives are troubled by drug abuse and domestic violence to a safe, fun-filled week in the wilderness.