If you are parenting teenagers, you may be worried about the possibility that they will try alcohol or other drugs. This is a valid fear, since many adults with substance use disorders started their substance use in adolescence, and about 10 million American teenagers meet criteria for having a substance use disorder. It can be difficult to stay on top of adolescent substance use trends, but Highland Hospital Behavioral Health in Charleston, West Virginia, is here to help parents.
The Good News for Parents
There is some good news for parents who are concerned about substance use trends among teenagers. Substance use among 8th-12th graders dropped during the pandemic, and it has stayed steady, at its lowest point in decades, during the past five years. This is according to the Monitoring the Future Survey, which asks students in grades 8, 10, and 12 about their use of alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, and other illicit drugs. Over the prior month and the prior year, more kids than before the pandemic stated that they were avoiding substance use.
The Bad News for Parents (and Everyone)
When young people do use substances, they are not necessarily using the same drugs as their parents did, so it may be more difficult for their parents to spot the signs of trouble. Gen Z drinks less alcohol than prior generations, but they are more likely to try psychedelics and cannabis, if they do use any substances.
It’s really great that fewer kids are using alcohol, nicotine, and other drugs, but the number of kids overdosing is at an all-time high. These conflicting trends can be confusing until we look at the underlying cause. In 2017, law enforcement seized 49,657 pills containing illicit fentanyl. Just 6 years later, in 2023, that number jumped to over 115,000,000 pills.
What Is Fentanyl?
Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid, meaning that it is part of the same drug family as heroin and morphine, but it is 50-100 times more powerful than morphine. Fentanyl is sometimes used in medical settings, but it is also sometimes manufactured illegally. Fentanyl is also more dangerous when mixed with alcohol, amphetamines, benzodiazepines, ketamine, or nitrous oxide.
Signs of Fentanyl Overdose
Fentanyl and other opioids cause the body’s crucial functions, like breathing and the heart beating, to slow down or even stop, which is what happens in an overdose of fentanyl. Signs of fentanyl overdose include:
- Blue lips, nails, or skin
- Slow breathing or gurgling
- Chest pain
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Strange behavior
- Inability to stay awake
Why Would Kids Take Fentanyl?
While there are people who take fentanyl on purpose, many of the people who are overdosing on it don’t even realize they are putting fentanyl into their system. This is because it is often added to or disguised as other drugs. Young people who think they are taking heroin, methamphetamine, ecstasy, acid, or even prescription drugs may actually be receiving a mix of that drug and fentanyl or even straight fentanyl. The young person may take an amount that is equal to what they have previously used, not realizing that this more powerful drug is present in their supply. This leads to accidental overdoses.
Risk Factors for Teen Substance Use Disorders
Many people experiment with alcohol or other drugs, without ever developing an addiction, but the things that can place a person at higher risk of developing a substance use disorder include:
- Drinking or using drugs from a young age
- A temperament that is inclined toward addiction
- Positive attitude toward substance use
- Having friends who engage in substance use
- Being neurodivergent (being autistic or having ADHD)
- Easy access to substances
- Parents with substance use disorders or mental health conditions
- Experiencing challenging family dynamics
- Insufficient parental engagement and supervision
- Familial rejection due to sexual orientation or gender identity
- Having a history of trauma
What Parents Can Do
In the past, strategies for keeping kids safe from drugs focused on abstinence and scare tactics. These were not hugely effective. It is now suggested to provide young people with accurate information about substances, so that they know they can trust adults to be honest with them, and they are able to make informed decisions related to their chemical health. This does not mean that parents should normalize drug use or give the impression that they approve of their teen using substances. Parents modeling good choices and explaining why they want their kids to avoid drugs can be a helpful deterrent.
At Highland Hospital Behavioral Health, we want parents to have the tools to recognize that their children are struggling, as soon as possible. We know that early interventions lead to the quickest, most complete recoveries.
