National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week is March 17-23. The week aims to educate and empower teens with facts about drug use and addiction to help them make informed decisions.
Adolescence is a time of growth and change, physically and mentally. This is especially true for the brain as it continues to develop until the mid to late 20s. One of the last parts of the brain that mature is the prefrontal cortex, which helps with planning and decision-making.
This is the reason why teens do not always make the healthiest decisions and are often led by other factors such as emotions or social benefits. Adolescents are at a vulnerable stage in life when it comes to drugs and alcohol, as they can lead to addiction.
According to the 2023 Nevada High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey, many Carson City teens do not see the risks of substance use. For example, about 40% of teens think drinking five or more alcoholic drinks once or twice a week or smoking one or more packs of cigarettes daily has little to no risk.
About 70% feel the same way about smoking marijuana once or twice a week, and about 25% use prescription drugs that are not prescribed to them. Some teens try drugs or alcohol to fit in, feel better, or out of curiosity, which can lead to addiction and other serious problems.
Research has shown that a strong perception of parental disapproval towards drug and alcohol use can significantly discourage young people from using substances. According to the 2023 Nevada High School YRBS, 10% of Carson City teens believe their parents would consider it either not at all wrong or only a little bit wrong for them to consume one or two alcoholic drinks every day or use drugs not prescribed to them. This perception was higher for marijuana use at about 28% and about 16% for smoking tobacco.
This highlights the importance of open communication between parents and children about the risks of drug and alcohol use and the role parental beliefs play in influencing adolescent choices. It is crucial for parents to have these conversations early and often to help build a protective environment against substance misuse along with leading by example.
Preventing substance use is the best strategy to keep teens safe and healthy. The use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs as a teenager is also related to increased risk for adult substance use disorders. But if teens do not use alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs, they are less likely to use those substances later in life.
For information about services and programs available to you through Carson City Health and Human Services, visit gethealthycarsoncity.org, or call 775-887-2190. You can visit the CCHHS office at 900 E. Long St., in Carson City or follow CCHHS on Facebook at facebook.com/cchhs, or Instagram at GetHealthyCarsonCity.