Posted on June 22, 2009

Parents once worried about their teens’ exposure to drugs. They worried that their peers may try and convince them to engage in unhealthy activities, all the while leaving the liquor cabinet unattended and unlocked.

Now, alcohol is emerging as the drug of choice for teens. The Canterbury News reported on a 10 percent rise in the number of teens under the age of 18 seeking addiction advice over the past year. This increase was captured by the Kent Drug and Alcohol Action Team (KDAAT).

According to Angela Slaven, Kent County Council director of youth services, the number of people seeking help for underage drinking is up, yet those getting help for addiction to substances such as ecstasy, heroin and cocaine fell by as much as 47 percent.

Slaven pointed to the easy access and inexpensive price of alcohol as key contributors to its consumption for underage teens. There is evidence that culture and social norms also contribute to the drinking, as well as parents who supply underage teens with alcohol in an attempt to manage their drinking.

The BBC conducted a recent investigation that found that a number of young people that seek treatment for drug and alcohol problems has increased as much as 12 percent over the past two years.

While alcohol is gaining a presence in the lives of young people, it still has a formidable competitor in cannabis. KDAAT reports that even though cannabis referrals were down from 374 to 276 in the 2007-08 reporting year, it is still the drug that most young people are seeking help for.

Slaven noted that cannabis is the prevailing drug in young men aged 16 to 24, while heroin is most abused by the 35 to 44 age group. Slaven believes that the messages surrounding blood born viruses and sharing needles is getting across to young people. Now, work just needs to be done in other areas.