Posted on March 24, 2010

Parents looking for signs that their kids are participating in substance use should act fast if they find them, says a new study released at the beginning of March. The study also highlights the importance of not only parental intervention but also the effectiveness of parental education.

The Partnership for a Drug-Free American and MetLife Foundation completed a study that shows alarming trends. For the first time in a decade, an increase was shown in the use of drugs that teens might be tempted to use at parties.

The two groups used a measurement tool called the 2009 Partnership Attitude Tracking Study to establish a summary about what current drug use looks like for teenagers. According to the study, alcohol use by teens in high school during the last month has gone up 11 percent just since 2008, and Ecstasy use has gone up an alarming 67 percent, from 6 percent in 2008 to 10 percent in 2009.

Marijuana use also shows a significant increase, from 32 percent in 2008 to 38 percent in 2009, indicating a 19 percent increase. The data shows a sobering trend: a reverse in the declines in use of several different drugs that was holding steady from 1998 to 2008.

The Partnership/MetLife study shows that under the reverse are signs that teen attitudes are changing about the acceptability of drug and alcohol use. 45 percent of teens in 2008 reported that “being high feels good,” while in 2009 there were 51 percent of teens agreeing to that statement. In addition, there was a drop in the number of teens saying that they “don’t want to hang around drug users,” with 35 percent in 2008 sliding down to 30 percent in 2009.

Steve Pasierb, the president and CEO of the Partnership, urged parents to be on alert for signs of drug use.“These new PATS data should put all parents on notice that they have to pay closer attention to their kids’ behavior – especially their social interactions – and they must take action just as soon as they think their child may be using drugs or drinking.”
The president and CEO of MetLife Foundation also found reason to caution parents about their role, stating, “the earlier parents take steps to address a child’s drug or alcohol use, the greater the chance they’ll be effective in preventing a serious problem. We need to be sure parents know when it’s time to act, and how to act when confronted with a substance abuse situation.”
Research has shown that parents can also have a critical role in preventing drug use in teens. Children in grades 7-12 who have been taught by their parents about the dangers of drugs are 50 percent less likely to ever try them. Parents can go to www.drugfree.org to learn how to talk openly with their kids about drugs and alcohol.