JUST FOR YOU
YOU Deserve to Live Above the HighFor Youth
OMG … The Teen Years
Your middle and high school years can be time of rapid growth, increased responsibility, exploration, independence, and the onset of risk taking. Taking risks with new behaviors provides youth the opportunity to test your skills and abilities and discover who you are and who you want to be. But, some risk behaviors—such as using alcohol, tobacco and drugs—can have harmful and long-lasting effects on a teen’s health and well-being.
The teen years can also be filled with so much excitement such as dating, landing your first job, getting your driver’s license, going to prom, or preparing for graduation. However, sometimes it can get overwhelming because there is so much happening all at once. Knowing how to properly handle your emotions, make good decisions, communicate effectively, and set goals are important skills to practice because they will help you stay on a healthy path to success.
FRFR … Everyone Is NOT Doing Drugs
The messages that youth often receive from movies, music, social media, and other young people is that everyone is using tobacco, alcohol and drugs. However, the truth is that most teens do choose to refrain from using alcohol, tobacco and drugs because they are more focused on maintaining a healthy body, reaching their goals, and achieving their future success.
According to the National Center for Drug Abuse “illicit drug use was 5.8% among 8th graders, 9.4% among 10th graders, and 13.3% among 12th graders” (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2021). So what does that mean? It means only about 4 out of every 100 of your peers are actively using drugs. Many young people refrain from substance use by filling their time with volunteering, sports, work, hobbies, and clubs. They also avoid parties or places that may be known to have substances. They are aware of their surroundings and are not afraid to say no. Staying above the high, passing on that blunt or drink of alcohol, puts you among the majority of people your age who chose to remain tobacco, alcohol and drug free!
Devastating Consequences – Remembering Cade Bailey
“Never in a million years did I think I would be in a position that ended up killing my best friend.”
– Thomas,
on the impact left behind by drinking and driving
BTW …. You Can Help Yourself and Others
Addiction can manifest in anyone, no matter what their age. Taking your first drink, smoking weed, or popping pills may seem cool at first. However, many find themselves addicted to substances and feeling like there is no way to stop.
Research has shown us that about “86% of teenagers know someone who smokes, drinks, or uses drugs during the school day” (National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 2021). Odds are, you know someone who is involved in substance use or maybe you are the one who is struggling. You are not alone!
Whether it’s you, a friend, or a family member there are a few simple steps to take to get help. As intimidating as it is, the first step is to talk to an adult. It doesn’t have to be your parent. You can talk to another family member, a friend’s parent, your teachers or school counselors, any other caring and trustworthy adult. You will not be judged or shamed when asking for help! There are lots of people who care about you and those you love. A trustworthy adult can help you determine what needs to be done and what resources are available to help. YOU just need to reach out!
More Resources
Just Think Twice
Teens: Drug Use and the Brain
Adolescence is a critical time in development when young people adopt certain health behaviors, and habits, and make decisions that can impact their future. Unfortunately, the number of teens reporting poor mental health is on the rise. The good news is that many young people are resilient, and they can bounce back from difficult experiences. Some parents, educators, and other caring adults have recognized the need to support youth well-being — and you can too!
Show you care by talking to them, listening to them, supporting them, and getting help for them. Their future depends on it.
Learn more at Youth Mental Health — Current Priorities of the U.S. Surgeon General (hhs.gov)
For Caring Adults
It is important to protect our youth from tobacco, alcohol and drugs because use during childhood could translate into adult use with lifelong consequences. The developing brain of an adolescent is particularly vulnerable to the formation of addiction.
Scare tactics are not effective and we cannot rely simply on anti-drug messaging (“just say no”) to protect our children. Children and teens need strong parental figures and solid reasons to avoid using tobacco, alcohol and drugs. Being informed and prepared is essential to protecting your kids.
Caring adults impact a child’s attitudes around drug use more than we might think. Research shows that caring adults have a strong influence over their children’s decisions and behavior. A very important part of parenting is being a positive role model, having open honest conversations, setting clear expectations, and reinforcing that a drug-free lifestyle is most favorable.
Building Youth Resiliency
Youth are more likely to achieve healthy, favorable outcomes and to thrive if they are resilient. Resilience is our ability to bounce back stronger after setbacks and challenging situations. It is our ability to manage stress and function well even when faced with adversity and trauma.
The most important strategy for building resiliency in youth is a consistent relationship with at least one safe, caring, reliable, and competent adult who provides positive guidance and promotes high expectations.
Whether you are a parent, family member, neighbor, teacher, or coach, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that our youth can rely on us.
Other key strategies for building resiliency in youth
- Opportunities for constructive engagement in family, community, school, and other social institutions
- Development of productive problem-solving skills, decision-making skills, and personal responsibility
- Development of self-regulation, self-reflection, self-confidence, self-compassion, and character.
10 Tips for Building Resilience in Children and Teens
Click to expand topic.
*Adapted from the American Psychological Association
Make connections.
Find ways to help children foster connectivity. It’s important for them to build strong positive relationships with their peers, family, and other community members. Connecting with others provides social support and strengthens resilience.
Help others.
Helping others empowers youth to replace feelings of helplessness with a sense of control. Engaging youth in age-appropriate volunteer work allows them to feel connected to their communities, perform better in school, and makes them less likely to engage in risky behavior.
Maintain a routine.
A well-balanced routine can provide youth with a sense of safety and security. The predictability of a dependable schedule help youth know what to expect and what’s expected of them. Routines foster healthy habits, a well-balanced lifestyle, cultivates responsibility, and supports their mental health.
Practice self-care.
Teach youth the importance of self-care by encouraging them to eat well, exercise, try new hobbies, and get sufficient sleep. Showing youth the importance of caring for oneself helps to improve their ability to handle stress.
Laugh often.
Tell jokes, draw funny pictures, have a pillow fight, and make silly sounds. Laughter reduces stress hormones and boosts the immune system, similar to the effects of physical exercise. Laughter is a healthy form of emotional release for children when they feel stressed or tense.
Make every day meaningful.
Encourage children to set reasonable goals and help them to move toward them one step at a time. Focusing on a small task can give them a sense of accomplishment each day. This can help build the resilience to move forward in the face of challenges.
Nurture a positive self-view.
Help children learn to trust themselves to cope with stress, solve problems, and make appropriate decisions. Developing confidence in their abilities and avoiding negative self-talk is a great way for children to build resilience for the future.
Embrace change.
Change can be scary for children and teens. However, helping them see that change is part of life can teach them to be more adaptable. Flexibility is an essential part of resilience. It can better equip children to be proactive, plan, respond, and thrive when faced with a life crisis.
Maintain a hopeful outlook.
Even when children are facing painful events, help them see that there is a future beyond the current situation and that the future can be good. An optimistic and positive outlook can enable children to see the good things in life and remain hopeful in the hardest times.
Have fun!
Finding time for play is often a low priority, but it remains an effective way to stimulate relaxation, develop new skills, and be creative. It’s the way children learn to master their environment by trying new things and testing their limits – and that’s what resiliency is all about.
Drugs Most Commonly Used by Teens
Factors that put your child at risk for addiction include:
- Parental alcohol or drug use
- Violence or trauma
- Mental illness
- Peer drug use
- Drug availability in the neighborhood
Alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco (including electronic cigarettes) are the most common substances used by youth. Additionally, there is a significant increase in vaping, which poses significant concerns. Opioids are lower in popularity among teens, but the risk of youth opioid abuse is very real. Because the brain is still developing, the risk of youth addiction is heightened.
The more risk factors present, the more likely a teen is to try drugs.
How to Discuss Drug Use With Youth
9. Drop everything when they are ready to talk… including your cell phone.
10. Look for conversation starters.
If there is drinking or marijuana use at the party, what will you do?
What do you think about marijuana and kids who use substances?
If your friends wanted you to try a drug, how would you handle it?
- Additionally, you want to be a good role model by exhibiting the substance free or responsible use behaviors you expect of the child in your life. Children look up to their parents and other caring adults and may copy your behavior. Therefore, it is important that you are thoughtful about what they hear you say and see you do.
- Learn more about protecting your kids at Parents: Facts on Teen Drug Use | NIDA for Teens (drugabuse.gov)
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Opening a conversation with the child in your life about drug use can be difficult, but children whose parents or other caring adults talk to them about the risks of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs are less likely to use them.
Communication Tips
- Be clear about your views.
- Be positive. Remain calm and relaxed.
- Listen more than you talk. Everything sounds like a lecture to teens.
- Ask them what they know.
- Be honest and provide them with facts.
- Keep your statements short and simple.
- Keep an open mind. Put yourself in your teen’s shoe.
- Show respect for what your teen says.
How to Protect your Children from Underage Drinking
The Bailey’s have some very personal sound advice for caring adults who are concerned about underage drinking.
“… he thought he was invincible … and now all I have left are pictures of my son.”
Finding Help for Your Teen
As soon as you notice signs of substance use or addiction in your child, confront them about their behavior. Prepare yourself for the conversation, and go into it with a calm and determined mindset. Make them feel safe, while also letting them know you are serious, so you can gain accurate information about their drug use.
If you are concerned about habit or addiction, take your child to a doctor or therapist. Your medical provider can give you advice on how to proceed.
How to Respond if Your Child Is Using Drugs
Start the conversation with the other adults in your household. Come to an agreement with them on how to proceed and set goals for your family. Goals may involve curfews or other means of discipline, getting your child to understand why certain friends are a bad influence, or convincing them to see a therapist. Then, talk to your child collectively about these goals.
Your child may get upset at you, especially if you make accusations and/or go through their personal belongings or messages. Stay calm during this conversation and remind your child that you love them and you are doing what’s best for them.
For Older Adults
The most used drug in this age group is alcohol so the most admissions to substance use treatment centers for older adults is for alcohol. Aging can lower the body’s tolerance for alcohol. Older adults generally experience the effects of alcohol more quickly than when they were younger. In older adults, too much alcohol can lead to balance problems and falls, which can result in hip or arm fractures and other injuries. Older people have thinner bones than younger people, so their bones break more easily. Older adults also have less muscles to absorb the alcohol, the alcohol takes longer to absorb, and they have less water in their bodies. All of these changes to the body happen as you age and when you mix in too much alcohol it can lead to severe issues with the overall body.
The process of becoming older, or aging, can also lead to increased vulnerability to substance misuse due to the social and physical changes during this process. Older adults are more likely to experience death of friends, change in living situations, as well as health conditions such as mood disorders, lung and heart problems, or memory loss. As these problems persist, older adults tend to receive prescriptions for pain medicines at a higher rate than other age groups. This influx in prescription medicines can lead to a greater increased risk of potentially becoming addicted and dependent to these medicines. Unintentional misuse of medicines by older adults are more likely to happen because they may forget to take their medicines or take the wrong amount of medicines (too much or not enough).
Overall, older adult’s use of illicit drugs is much lower among other adults but the numbers are steadily increasing. Older adults are just as susceptible to addiction as others. They should not be ignored. If you notice signs and symptoms of substance use disorder or substance misuse in older adults make sure medical professionals, caretakers or family members are aware.
For Faith Communities
Faith leaders and faith communities are often the first point of contact when individuals and families face challenges with substance use disorder (SUD). Many people struggling with SUD feel hopeless, trapped, or are in such emotional pain or despair that they struggle to face another day.
In times of crisis, many will turn to their faith communities and leaders before they turn to professionals. When faith communities know how to respond they can play a significant role in helping get those struggling with SUD on their journey to recovery. There are key strategies that faith communities can employ to be a part of the safety net through education, referrals, support and compassion.
Promote awareness by educating the members of congregations about substance use disorder.
- Invite local experts, including those with lived experience to speak with the congregation
- Have open conversations and share facts and common myths about substance use disorder
Connect individuals and families to the help they so desperately need.
- Learn the basic signs of SUD and encourage those in need to seek help.
- Remind people that recovery is possible and treatment is available and effective
- Build partnerships with local service providers to direct individuals and families in need to available SUD services and support in the community.
- Consider offering meeting spaces for community conversations and support groups
Promote acceptance and compassion for those with substance use disorder.
- Foster safe and supportive environments for people to openly talk about substance use, mental health, trauma, and related issues.
- Focus on “what happened” instead of, “what’s wrong” with an individual.
- Remember voices of leaders and members of faith communities can reduce stigma and greatly influence attitudes about SUD and those who experience it
