Teen Drug Use

March 31, 2011

Experts say teen drug and alcohol use has surged in recent years, but many parents struggle to help their kids deal with the problem. Now a new University of Florida study says school can make a big difference in teens’ lives outside the classroom. UF researchers examined surveys from kids in Chicago inner city schools about their drug use between sixth and eighth grade. The kids that went to school that have a higher than expected academic achievement and attendance record were 25% less likely to use drugs, steal, and participate in fights. Researchers say this study suggests schools may be able to break the links between social disadvantage, drug use, and delinquency.

Dr. Amy Tobler/UF health researcher: “It is not just the individual level, we are seeing these school level effects. So entire groups of kids enrolled in these schools are having these healthier behaviors, whether it is academics or drugs and delinquency.”

Experts say the drugs most commonly used by teen are alcohol and marijuana, and the average age of first use is fourteen.

Dr. Amy Tobler/UF health researcher: “When you start that early, they lead to so many problems and the same with delinquency, it puts you on a path to other negative outcomes later in adolescence and also into adulthood. So the extent that we can prevent it early or stop it early will lead to greater public health benefits later on.”

Researchers say this study also highlights that schools can do more than promote academics, but can also advance preventive interventions.