The goal of National Drug and Alcohol Awareness Week is to dispel any myths students and teens may believe about substance use and to connect them with scientific facts instead.
Drugs and alcohol can have significant negative effects on the bodies and minds of individuals who misuse them and can be particularly harmful for teens.
Several circumstances can lead to teen substance use: curiosity, peer pressure, stress, emotional struggles, and more. Working to prevent teens from engaging in risky behaviors through education and emotional support about the long-term effects of substances on a person’s mind and body can help prevent their misuse. Here are a few of drug and alcohol facts:
Alcohol is the most commonly used substance by adolescents.
In 2019, 29 percent of high school students reported drinking alcohol in the past 30 days and 14 percent reported binge drinking.
Addiction to alcohol can lead to physical and mental health problems, including heart and liver disease, depression, and even cancer.
Underage drinking is a significant factor in the deaths of people younger than 21 from motor vehicle crashes, homicides, overdoses, falls, burns, and accidents.
Marijuana is the second most commonly used substance by adolescents. In 2019, 1.3 percent of 8th graders, 4.8 percent of tenth graders, and 6.4 percent of 12th graders reported using marijuana daily.
When a person uses marijuana, they can experience a loss of coordination, slower reactions, and an altered sense of time.
Long-term use of marijuana can cause memory problems, breathing problems, cough or lung sickness, and severe nausea and vomiting.
In 2019, 0.8 percent of 8th graders said they smoke cigarettes daily, and 1.9 percent said they vape nicotine daily.
Smoking tobacco products can cause lung, mouth, stomach, kidney, and bladder cancers.
Smoking tobacco products can cause lung problems and lead to heart disease, eye problems, and yellow teeth.
Smokeless tobacco products can cause oral cancer and heart and gum disease.
Long-term effects of opioid misuse can lead to addiction, heart infection, lung infection, and muscle pain.
Long-term use of methamphetamine can lead to anxiety and confusion, itchy skin causing sores from scratching, and extreme weight loss.
Bath salts can make a user hallucinate and turn violent, and can lead to kidney problems, heart problems, and weak muscles.
Misusing prescription stimulants can lead to high blood pressure, sleeping problems, angry reactions, and heart problems.
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