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How to prevent substance abuse in teens & young adults

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA), an estimated ten percent of Americans aged 12 and older currently struggle with a substance use disorder (SUD) of some kind. In California, nine percent of the total population met the criteria for an SUD in 2021.

Many of those people began using substances in their childhood and teenage years. Nine out of ten adults who currently struggle with substance abuse first began using substances before the age of 18. That means prevention efforts must begin early when kids can be educated and influenced to steer clear of drugs and alcohol. Prevention strategies targeting the root of the problem are essential to curb drug use and help people lead healthier lives.  Early intervention helps prevent substance abuse and reduce the negative consequences of addiction before they occur.

To raise awareness of this issue, President Barack Obama in 2011 issued a proclamation designating October as National Substance Abuse Prevention Month. Every year since then, the observance has served as a way to raise awareness among youth, parents, schools, and community leaders of the importance of stopping substance abuse before it starts.

Monarch Sober Homes recognizes the importance of substance abuse prevention, and, in this article, will outline the causes of substance abuse and how to prevent it from occurring.

Youth Substance Use in California

Teenagers in California have a 24.46% higher chance of having used drugs or alcohol in the past month than the national average.Key statistics here include:

• Over 10% of 12-to-17-year-olds in California report using drugs in the past month
• 67% of teenagers in California report using pain relievers in the past month
• Almost 16% of all California teens report using marijuana in the last year
• 85% of all 12-to-17-year-olds report using alcohol in the last month
• 2% of 11th graders in California have used prescription pain medications at least four times to get high
• According to SAMSHA data from 2019, 14.4% of Californians aged 18-to-25 have a substance use disorder

The statistics presented above demonstrate why observances like National Substance Abuse Prevention Month are critical for raising awareness of this issue. Parents, teachers, and mentors should take this occasion to be open and honest with their children about drugs, alcohol, and how to live healthy lives free of substance abuse.

Causes of Substance Abuse in Youth

The causes of substance abuse in young people are varied and may be hard to pinpoint. A major factor is that adolescent brains are underdeveloped – the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for decision-making, doesn’t fully develop until age 25. At the same time their brains are not equipped for good decision-making, their bodies, social lives, and what is expected of them all undergoing profound changes during this time.

Though anyone can abuse drugs or alcohol at any time, most people with SUDs began using substances before the age of 18, which is why raising awareness through observances like National Substance Abuse Prevention Month is so essential.

Here are some of the risk factors that can drive youth addiction:

Familial Risk Factors

Young people often turn to substances due to problems in the home.

This can include:

• Parental neglect
• Abuse
• Family history of substance abuse
• Marital conflict; divorce

Physical, emotional, or sexual abuse has been linked to increased risk for adolescent substance abuse, with one study reporting that up to 29% of young people who engage in substance abuse have been abused.

Social Risk Factors

A young person’s social situation is very influential on their state of mind.

There are a variety of social factors that can raise the risk for adolescent addiction:

• Peer pressure
• Bullying
• Friends who are bad influences
• Gang affiliation
• Poverty
• Poor academic performance

Bullying at school has been linked in multiple studies to higher rates of hard drug use.

Individual Risk Factors

There are a variety of individual risk factors that can increase the likelihood for substance abuse.

Some of these include:

• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Clinical depression
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Sexual orientation

The most studied of these individual risk factors are ADHD and mental illness. Both have very well-established links to substance abuse. Less well-studied has been sexual orientation. However, LGBT youth are overrepresented in substance abuse statistics as well.

For example, LGBT opioid abuse is nearly three times higher than the rate among heterosexuals. The data also shows that LGBT youth are more likely to experience mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, which are strongly linked to substance abuse. According to data from 2017 to 2019, almost 28% of LGBT California students in grades 7th, 9th, and 11th used substances in the previous month, as compared to just over 14% of heterosexual students.

Monarch Sober Homes recognizes the special challenges LGBT individuals face. We offer LGBT-friendly outpatient treatment and LGBTQ sober living across Northern California. Whether it’s sober living in Northern California or  , we lead the way in providing upscale and professionally managed programs that treat the whole person – no matter who you are or where you come from.

Note: Monarch services are intended for those aged 18 and older. For those under 18, Monarch is happy to provide referrals to a range of California programs aimed at minors.

Tips to Prevent Substance Abuse in Young People

Because most people in substance abuse treatment report they first started using drugs or alcohol before age 18, substance abuse prevention strategies aimed at young people are critical. It should be noted that this means not just kids, but (especially) teens and even young adults in their early 20’s, as brain development is not complete until 25.

There are a variety of measures that can help prevent substance abuse in young people.

Without active and sustained parental involvement in their children’s lives, nothing else on this list matters. Talk to your child every day — and listen to what they have to say. Oftentimes young adults won’t fully let on about how they’re feeling unless parents probe.

Make a habit of talking to your child every day about their life, and listen carefully. This may be at mealtimes, during car rides, or while watching TV. Show that you are interested and available to talk whenever they want, about whatever is on their mind. Keeping the lines of communication open will build trust, make them feel cared for, and allow you to spot potential trouble and offer guidance.

Staying involved in your child’s life also means getting to know who their friends are (and their parents), knowing where your child is going and spending their time, and having them call or text you to update you on where they are.

If you build the relationship now, as your child gets older and enters high school and college, they will be more likely to share their problems with you, rather than resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as drug use.

Make Clear Rules and Enforce Them

Let your child know that substance abuse is not acceptable, explaining to them why you’re against drug use and that there are consequences for breaking the rules. If they know you don’t approve of them using drugs, tobacco, or alcohol, they’re less likely to do it.

Enforcing the rules provides predictable consequences, which in turn provides structure.

Your child will appreciate this structure – provided, of course, you enforce the rules both consistently and fairly – punishing when rules are broken, but also acknowledging and praising your child when they follow them by abstaining from an opportunity to use drugs.

Be a Positive Role Model

Young people are highly observant. They learn as children by watching their parents, and they continue to do so into their adolescence and early adulthood, even if they don’t say so. That means, first and foremost, not abusing substances in front of your child. Parental substance abuse is a major risk factor in youth substance abuse. If you can’t quit,  at least try to shield your child as much as possible from your use of alcohol, tobacco, or illicit drugs.

Other things you can do include:

• Point out examples of the negative consequences of substance abuse to your child
• Tell them that using drugs or alcohol doesn’t make you popular or solve your problems
• If you used to abuse substances, explain it was a mistake and you want your child to not repeat the same mistakes you did
• Explain that their body and mind are still developing and that this development can be damaged by using drugs and alcohol
• Eat right, exercise, and emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle

Be the best person you can be for your child. If you model the behavior you expect from them and treat them with fairness and respect (while not backing down from enforcing the rules) they will be less likely to abuse substances.

Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Programs in California

There are a variety of programs aimed at preventing youth substance abuse available in California. These include family-based prevention programs, school programs, and community programs.

Sacramento prevention programs include:

• OmniYouth
• PRO Youth and Families, Inc.
• Public Health Institute
• Sacramento County Office of Education
• Sacramento County Coalition for Youth

The Sacramento County Department of Health Services offers information on all these programs.

San Francisco prevention programs include:

• The San Francisco Tobacco-Free Project
• Community Prevention Partners
• Botvin Life Skills Training Program
• Strengthening Families Program

This is by no means an exhaustive list. There is a range of prevention programs across California. A summary of these programs and the research supporting their efficacy can be found here.

Monarch Can Help

While observances like National Substance Abuse Prevention Month are about preventing substance abuse before it starts, it’s never too late to make a change and start recovery. Monarch Sober Homes is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based substance abuse treatment and support for those recovering from SUDs.

Aside from being the only sober living provider in either Sacramento or San Francisco to offer MAT services, we also offer comprehensive outpatient treatment in Sacramento at our Monarch Recovery Center (MRC). At this beautiful campus, full of lush nature – including trees, waterfalls, and ponds of koi fish – you can receive the best in evidence-based treatment, set within a serene environment.

Our treatments include:

• Recovery planning
• Individual, group, or family counseling
• Treatment planning using SNAPs (Strengths, Needs, Abilities, Preferences)
• Relapse prevention strategies
• 12-step programs
• Meditation and mindfulness
• Training in life skills such as time management
• Other therapies and interventions as necessary

While attending outpatient treatment, you can also take advantage of our Sacramento sober living options. We also offer sober living in San Francisco and Davis.

You may feel like it’s too late to make a change, but that’s not true. Everyone at Monarch is either in recovery or has years of experience helping others recover. We are committed to helping you walk this road and live the life you were meant to live. Contact us today to learn more about our beautiful facilities, compassionate treatment, and welcoming community.

We look forward to helping you start your recovery journey.

 

 

 

Sources:
California Health Care Foundation. (2018, December). California Health Care Almanac | Mental Health in California. www.chcf.org.
California Health Care Foundation. (2022, February 3). Substance Abuse in California. www.chcf.org.
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Children’s Bureau. (2019, April). What is Child abuse and neglect? Recognizing the Signs. www.childwelfare.gov.
Frobel, W., Grafe, N., Meigen, C., Vogel, M., Hiemisch, A., Kiess, W., & Poulain, T. (2022). Substance use in childhood and adolescence and its associations with quality of life and behavioral strengths and difficulties. BMC Public Health, 22(1).
Kaltiala-Heino, R., Rimpelä, M., Rantanen, P., & Rimpelä, A. (2000). Bullying at school–an indicator of adolescents at risk for mental disorders. Journal of adolescence, 23(6), 661–674.
Nansel, T. R., Overpeck, M., Pilla, R. S., Ruan, W. J., Simons-Morton, B., & Scheidt, P. (2001). Bullying behaviors among US youth: prevalence and association with psychosocial adjustment. JAMA, 285(16), 2094–2100.
National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics. (2022, April 6). Teenage drug use statistics [2022]: Data & Trends on abuse. drugabusestatistics.org.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2019). Behavioral Health Barometer. Store.samhsa.gov.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2017, August 24). Children Living With Parents Who Have a Substance Use Disorder. www.samhsa.gov.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, June 3). Substance Use and SUDs in LGBTQ* Populations. nida.nih.gov.