When adolescents use alcohol, other drugs or substances such as inhalants, tranquilizers or hallucinogens, at best they compromise their ability to make safe choices and good decisions in their daily routines- whether it is relations with the opposite sex, dealings with peers, driving to the store, riding a bicycle or skiing down a hill. At worst, they can die or kill someone else. Substance use cuts across race and ethnicity, geographic and socioeconomic lines, and the cost to society is enormous.
Substance abuse is associated with mood changes, memory loss and brain damage, thus increasing the chances of a variety of education-related issues, including poor school performance, truancy, academic failure, dropping out of school and limited expectations for higher education. Using alcohol and other drugs makes it more difficult to negotiate a way out of trouble in the areas where teens have minimal experience or are just learning to negotiate, such as sexual activity, driving (especially at night), critical decision making, dealing with peers or developing their own identities. Adolescent use of alcohol and other drugs increases the risk of becoming a teen parent, engaging in other high-risk sexual behavior, being injured or injuring others, experiencing physical and mental health problems, and becoming involved with the criminal justice system.
BEST PRACTICES
Parents - Parents can model responsible behavior, educate themselves about teen drug abuse, give and enforce clear messages about alcohol and other substances, and get involved and stay involved with local and school prevention efforts.
Schools - Schools can systematically address risk behaviors through health education, communication and peer-resistance skills, family, community involvement, health services, and counseling. Colorado's school-based health centers are an important venue for substance abuse services. Communities - Health care providers who serve teens should routinely take a history and provide counseling on common risk factors. Policy-level approaches include strengthening enforcement of DUI laws for youth; lowering the blood alcohol content threshold for youth and imposing a Zero Tolerance policy for drinking and driving; and enacting keg registration laws. Other approaches include substance abuse training for all those who work with teens to recognize signs of substance abuse; improving, expanding and funding existing prevention programs; and encouraging the hospitality sector to engage in responsible alcohol service, making food available to patrons and not serving those under the age of 21.
