Teens and Substance Use
Three commonly used substances by teens:
Alcohol
- 43% of grade 7 to 12 students in Ontario report drinking alcohol in the past year.
- Drinking rates increase with grade. 11% to 12% of grade 9 students and 68% of grade 12 students reported drinking alcohol.
- Overall, 17% of grade 7 to 12 students and 32% of grade 12 students report binge drinking (five or more drinks on a single occasion) in the past month.
Cannabis
- 19% of high school students have used cannabis in the past 12 months.
- 37% of grade 12 students have used cannabis in the past 12 months.
- 15 years old is the average age that teens report first using cannabis.
Non-medical use of prescription pain medication
- One in 10 students report non-medical use of prescription pain medications.
- Majority of students that used prescription pain medications non medically, in the past year, obtained the drug from a parent or a sibling.
- Male and female students are equally likely to use alcohol, cannabis, or non-medical prescription pain medications.
Reasons why teens use substances
Teens are at a stage in their life where they are finding out who they are and what they value. They want to do things on their own and they may take risks. Here are a few reasons why teens may use substances:
- To have fun in social settings
- Social influences from peers and media
- Having a positive view of a substance
- Thrill seeking
- To cope with stress or bad feelings
- Having access to substances; teens report that the number one place they access alcohol and prescription pain medications are from their home or family
Health risks and other consequences of substance use
- Problems in school (e.g., lower grades or skipping class)
- Social and legal problems (e.g., fighting or arrest for impaired driving)
- Injuries (e.g., burns, falls, drowning, or car crashes)
- Higher risk-taking (e.g., unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity)
- Mental health problems
- Addiction or dependence
- Overdose
- Higher risk of cancer
Common misconceptions about substances
Alcohol:
Myth:
Everyone is drinking.
Fact:
About 57% of grade 7 to 12 students in Ontario report not drinking at all in the past year.
Cannabis:
Myth:
It’s natural and so it is harmless.
Fact:
Early and regular cannabis use can affect the developing brain and it is related to mental health problems.
Myth:
Everyone is using it.
Fact:
81% of youth (grade 7 to 12) report not using cannabis.
Myth:
Cannabis helps you focus.
Fact:
Regular cannabis use impairs thinking, attention, and memory.
Myth:
Cannabis makes you a better driver; it’s safer than driving after drinking alcohol.
Fact:
Cannabis use impairs driving skills and is associated with an increased risk of collisions.
Myth:
Cannabis is not addictive.
Fact:
One in six adolescents who use cannabis will develop a cannabis use disorder.
Non-medical use of prescription pain medications:
Myth:
Prescription pain medications are safer than street drugs because they are prescribed by a doctor.
Fact:
A doctor prescribes these medications to people for a specific purpose; it can harm your health if you take any medications that are not prescribed to you, it is also illegal.
The functions of a brain
- Brain stem: Is responsible for breathing, heart rate, and swallowing.
- Cerebellum: Is responsible for movement and balance.
- Temporal lobe: Is responsible for hearing, short-term memory, and emotional expression.
- Occipital lobe: Is responsible for vision.
- Parietal lobe: Is responsible for sense of touch, mental math, and language association.
- Frontal lobe: Is responsible for initiation, personality, decision-making, reasoning, and language expression.
How substances harm the developing brain
A person’s brain continues to develop until about age 25. The part of the brain that is the last to develop is the frontal lobe; this part of the brain deals with emotions, concentration, impulse control, planning, and decision making. Use of substances during the teen years and early 20’s can cause long-term damage to the frontal lobe of the brain. This can cause problems in adulthood with:
- decision making,
- problem solving,
- dealing with emotions, and
- memory.
Trends and media influence
Mixing substances
There are times when teens mix energy drinks with alcohol. This is dangerous because the stimulating effects of the caffeine mask the effects of alcohol and may cause someone to drink more alcohol. This puts them at risk for alcohol poisoning.
Mixing prescription pain medications or illicit opioids with alcohol or other drugs greatly increases the risk of an overdose.
Media and availability
The alcohol industry has a big impact on a teen’s perceptions towards alcohol. Research shows that the more alcohol advertisements youth are exposed to, the younger they are when they start drinking. For those who are already drinking alcohol, advertising leads them to drink more.
There is also evidence that making alcohol more available leads to increased levels of drinking. Alcohol is now available in grocery stores, which may lead to increases in alcohol use over time.