"It's just alcohol", "It's just pot", or "Teens will be teens – they are just experimenting." Have you heard this before or perhaps even had similar thoughts yourself? As parents, we need to learn the true facts. There is a lot of new science about teens and the effect of drugs and alcohol on their developing brains. Experimentation with drugs and alcohol can change the direction of a young person's life and can lead to many negative consequences including family problems, social problems, poor academic achievement, and trouble with the law.

Research shows that many teens know more about drugs than their parents do. So take the time to educate yourself and learn the facts. Use these facts to have on-going conversations with your kids to help them stay drug and alcohol-free.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITIES?

Across the state of Illinois, schools are offered the opportunity every two years to administer a survey to students in 6, 8, 10, and 12th grades. The Illinois Youth Survey (IYS) covers a number of problem behaviors, including bullying, other violence, nutrition, and the use of gateway (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, inhalants) and other drugs. It also measures key risk and protective factors that strongly contribute to community-wide substance use rates. A review of the 2010 survey data from District 113 indicates:

• The reported rates of 10th and 12th grade alcohol and marijuana rates have increased since 2008.  See Figure 1.
• Teens reported easier access to these substances since 2008.
• High school youth are reporting a very low perceived risk of harm with using these substances.
• Perceived parental disapproval of the use of these substances by youth has decreased since 2008.

Figure 1

For more information on the District 113 IYS results,including data from 6th and 8th grade students in the District 113 sender schools, please visit Township High School District 113.

ALCOHOL AND THE TEENAGE BRAIN

The teenage brain is still developing. The areas of the brain that encourage risk-taking develop early in a teen, while the areas that improve self-control don't develop until the later teens or early twenties. Alcohol use can cause serious damage to the still developing parts of the brain that control motor coordination, impulse control, memory, judgment, and decision-making capacity. These impairments create a false sense of security and feelings of invincibility when teens engage in risky behaviors, such as drinking and/or drug use. Consider these facts:

• More children are killed by alcohol than by all illicit drugs combined.1
• More than 67 percent of young people who start drinking before the age of 15 will try an illicit drug. 2
• Teens who begin drinking at age 13 have a 45 percent chance of becoming alcohol dependent, while those who delay drinking until age 21 only have a 7 percent chance.
• Teens who drink are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviors and physical violence.
  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION ON UNDERAGE DRINKING

Underage Brochure
Alcohol - Parents. The Anti-Drug

MARIJUANA - IT'S RISKIER THAN YOU THINK

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug among youth and is more potent than ever.  Although sometimes marijuana is perceived as a “harmless herb”, the fact remains that today's marijuana is addictive and causes harm to developing brains and lungs.  In fact, in 63 to 69 percent of treatment admissions for 12 to 17 year olds, marijuana was the primary drug of abuse.3  Consider these facts:

• THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.  THC acts upon cannabinoid receptors in the brain.  Most of these receptors are found in the parts of the brain that influence pleasure, memory, thoughts, concentration, sensory and time perception, and coordinated movement. 
• Marijuana intoxication can cause distorted perceptions, impaired coordination, difficulty in thinking and problem solving, and problems with learning and memory. 
• Between 1998-2008, researchers noted a 103% increase in the potency of the THC found in marijuana. 4
• Research indicates that the earlier kids start using marijuana, the more likely they are to become dependent on this or other illicit drugs later in life.
• The amount of tar inhaled by marijuana smokers and the level of carbon monoxide absorbed are three to five times greater than among tobacco smokers.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION ON MARIJUANA:

Marijuana Facts - Parents. The Anti-Drug
Marijuana - InfoFacts - NIDA

INFORMATION ON OTHER ILLICIT DRUG USE AND PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE:

Drug Guide for Parents: Learn the facts to keep your teens safe
Information on other drugs including cocaine, heroin, LSD, meth, and inhalants
Preventing teen abuse of prescription drugs
OTC and Prescription Drug Abuse - Parents. The Anti-Drug
Prescription Drug Abuse: Not in My House
Performance enhancing substances
Teen Drug Intervention - Time to Act
Parents. The Anti-Drug. - Is Your Teen Using?