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https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/substance-use/

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High-risk drug use increases the likelihood that youth will engage in risk behaviors that can have dramatic, and lasting effects on their health and academic performance.

High-risk drug use refers to any use by adolescents of drugs with a high risk of adverse outcomes, such as injury, criminal justice involvement, school dropout, and loss of life. This includes:

Misuse of prescription drugs

Use of illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, inhalants, hallucinogens, or ecstasy

Use of injection drugs, which have a high risk of transmitting HIV and hepatitis¹

Youth who use high-risk drugs are more likely to also:

Engage in risky sexual behaviors (not using a condom, multiple partners).

Experience violence, such as physical and sexual dating violence, and being bullied, threatened, or injured.

Be at greater risk for mental health problems and suicide.²⁻³

Youth opioid use is linked to risky behaviors like not using a condom and that can lead to HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy.

These health risk behaviors and experiences put youth at greater risk for sexually transmitted infections, like HIV and other STDs, and unintended pregnancy. ⁴ Some of these behaviors, like drug use and having sex at an early age, are also consistently linked to poor grades, test scores, and lower educational attainment. ⁵⁻⁹

Preventing High-Risk Drug Use

We can take steps to prevent adolescent drug use that will help them stay healthier for decades to come and perform better in school. A majority of adults with substance abuse disorders and addictions started during their adolescent and young adult years. ¹⁰

Schools, parents, and families can help prevent high-risk drug use, both individually and by working together.

Schools

Schools can use strategies shown to prevent high-risk drug use and other risk behaviors:

1. Create safe and supportive school environments that successfully connect students to a network of caring peers and adults in school and the surrounding community. Provide training for staff, programs focused on positive youth development, policies that support all youth, and activities, such as student-led clubs that support LGBTQ youth.

2. Deliver quality health education and sexual health education that prepare students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed health decisions.

3. Connect students to mental and sexual health services at school or in the community.

Schools can also foster school connectedness and parent engagement in schools, two key factors that protect students from using high-risk drugs and from other health risk behaviors and experiences:

Make students feel connected by showing them that adults and peers in their school care about them as individuals. Implement strategies and actions to strengthen school connectedness among your students.

Find ways to work together with parents and families to support and improve the learning, development, and health of your students and their adolescents.

Parents and Families

Schools, families, and communities should work together to build a safe environment for youth at school and at home. Talking to youth about high-risk drug use and sexual risk behaviors tells them someone cares about them. And getting engaged in and involved at their schools can make a big difference in their lives and doesn't have to take a lot of time.

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Studies show that parental involvement in the lives of adolescents can reduce the chance that they will use high-risk, nonmedical prescription, and illegal drugs. ¹²⁻¹³

Parents and families can:

Communicate honestly and openly with adolescents about the risks of using drugs and engaging in sexual risk behaviors to help them make healthy decisions and protect their health now and in the future.

Learn more about what is going on at school in ways that fit your schedule, communicate what you think would be helpful, and read information that comes home.

Help adolescents feel more connected to school, which can protect them from engaging in risky behaviors like using high-risk drugs, by taking these concrete steps to promote connectedness among youth.

For the purpose of HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy, high-risk drug use is defined as any use by adolescents of drugs with a high risk of adverse outcomes, such as injury, criminal justice involvement, school dropout, and loss of life. This includes the misuse of prescription drugs, use of illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin, methamphetamines, inhalants, hallucinogens, or ecstasy, and use of injection drugs, which have a high risk of transmitting HIV and hepatitis.

Sexual risk behaviors are behaviors associated with sex that put a person at increased risk for HIV, STDs, and unintended pregnancy. They include not using a condom during sex or having sex with multiple partners.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuseexternal icon , drug "use" refers to any use of illegal drugs like heroin, cocaine, and tobacco. Drug "abuse" is an older term that defined use that is unsafe, use that leads a person to fail to fulfill responsibilities or gets them in legal trouble, or use that continues despite causing persistent interpersonal problems. This term is increasingly avoided because it can perpetuate stigma. Drug "misuse" refers to the problematic use of prescription medications or legal drugs.

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health. (2019, April 18). High-Risk Substance Use Among Youth.

2. Clayton HB, Lowry R, Basile KC, Demissie Z, Bohm MK. Physical and sexual dating violence and nonmedical use of prescription drugs. Pediatrics, 2017;140(6), e20172289.

3. Clayton HB, Bohm MK, Lowry R, Ashley C, Ethier KA. Prescription opioid misuse associated with risk behaviors among adolescents. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2019;57(4), 533-539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2019.05.017external icon .

4. Clayton HB, Lowry R, Basile KC, Demissie Z, Bohm MK. Physical and sexual dating violence and nonmedical use of prescription drugs. Pediatrics, 2017;140(6), e20172289.

5. Carlson SA, Fulton JE, Lee SM, Maynard M, Drown DR, Kohl III HW, Dietz WH. Physical education and academic achievement in elementary school: data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study. American Journal of Public Health2008;98(4):721-727.

6. Spriggs AL, Halpern CT. Timing of sexual debut and initiation of postsecondary education by early adulthood. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health2008;40(3):152-161.

7. Srabstein J, Piazza T. Public health, safety and educational risks associated with bullying behaviors in American adolescents. International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health2008;20(2):223-233.

8. Rasberry CN, Tiu GF, Kann L, McManus T, Michael SL, Merlo CL, Lee SM, Bohm MK, Annor F, Ethier K. Health-related behaviors and academic achievement among high school students-United States, 2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep2917;66:922-927.

9. Bradley BJ, Greene AC. Do health and education agencies in the United States share responsibility for academic achievement and health? A review of 25 years of evidence about the relationship of adolescents' academic achievement and health behaviorsexternal icon . J Adoles Health2013;52:523-532.

10. S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Surgeon General, Facing Addiction in America: The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Healthpdf icon external icon . Washington, DC: HHS, November 2016.

11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health. (2019, November 21). Fostering School Connectedness: Improving Student Health and Academic Achievement.

12. Nargiso JE, Ballard EL, Skeer MR. A systematic review of risk and protective factors associated with nonmedical use of prescription drugs among youth in the United States: A social ecological perspective. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 2015;76(1), 5-20.

13. Nakawaki B, Crano W. Patterns of substance use, delinquency, and risk factors among adolescent inhalant users. Substance Use & Misuse, 2014;50(1), 114-122.

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Youth High-Risk Drug Use is Linked to Risky Health Behaviors and Experiences

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High-risk drug use increases the likelihood that youth will engage in risk behaviors that can have dramatic, and lasting effects on their health and academic performance. High-risk drug use refers to any use by adolescents of drugs with a high risk of adverse outcomes, such as injury, criminal justice involvement, school dropout, and loss of life.

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https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/underage-drinking.htm

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Underage Drinking is Common

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance among young people in the U.S. ³

The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey ³ found that among high school students, during the past 30 days

23% drank alcohol.

11% binge drank.

5% of drivers drove after drinking alcohol.

14% rode with a driver who had been drinking alcohol.

Rates of current and binge drinking among high school students have generally been declining in recent decades. Although males historically had higher rates, in 2019 and 2021, female high school students were more likely to drink alcohol and binge drink than male high school students. 3,4

Underage Drinking is Dangerous

Youth who drink alcohol are more likely to experience ⁴⁻⁷

School problems, such as higher rates of absences or lower grades.

Social problems, such as fighting or lack of participation in youth activities.

Legal problems, such as arrest for driving or physically hurting someone while drunk.

Physical problems, such as hangovers or illnesses.

Unwanted, unplanned, and unprotected sexual activity.

Disruption of normal growth or sexual development.

Physical and sexual violence.

Increased risk of suicide and homicide.

Alcohol-related motor vehicle crashes and other unintentional injuries, such as burns, falls, or drowning.

Memory problems.

Misuse of other substances.

Changes in brain development that may have life-long effects.

Alcohol poisoning.

In general, the risk of youth experiencing these problems is greater for those who binge drink than for those who do not binge drink. 6,7

Early initiation of drinking is associated with development of an alcohol use disorder later in life. ⁸

Underage Drinking is Associated with Adult Drinking

Studies show a relationship between underage drinking behaviors and the drinking behaviors of adult relatives, adults in the same household, and adults in the same community and state.

There is a relationship between youth and adult drinking, including binge drinking, in states and communities.⁹⁻¹¹ A 5% increase in binge drinking among adults in a community is associated with a 12% increase in the chance of underage drinking.¹⁰

Among adolescents whose peers drink alcohol, those whose parents binge drink are more likely to drink alcohol than those whose parents do not.¹²

Underage Drinking is Preventable

State alcohol policy environments influence underage drinking, as well as excessive drinking among adults. Comprehensive approaches that include effective population-level policy strategies can reduce underage drinking. 10,13,14 The Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends several effective strategies for preventing excessive drinking, ¹⁵ including:

Increasing alcohol taxes.

Having commercial host ("dram shop") liability laws.

Regulating the number and concentration of alcohol outlets.

Enforcing laws prohibiting alcohol sales to minors.

The Surgeon General's Report on Alcohol, Drugs, and Health describes other strategies that can complement effective alcohol policies, such as national media campaigns targeting youth and adults, reducing youth exposure to alcohol advertising, and the development of comprehensive community-based programs. Read more about the prevention of excessive alcohol use, including underage drinking.

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Excessive alcohol use can lead to increased risk of health problems such as injuries, violence, liver diseases, and cancer.The CDC Alcohol Program works to strengthen the scientific foundation for preventing excessive alcohol use.

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https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/health_effects/index.htm

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There are several long term effects from drug use/absue as a teen, but some include:
- Drug tolerance
- Constant cravings
- Long-term insomnia
- Paranoia

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LONG TERM TOBACCO EFFECTS INTO ADULTHOOD

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LONG TERM TOBACCO EFFECTS INTO ADULTHOOD

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There are a plethora long term effects from tobacco use as a teen, but some include:
- Lung, Mouth, and Esophagus Cancer
- Stomach, Liver, and Pancreas Cancer
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Heart Disease

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LONG TERM ALCOHOL EFFECTS INTO ADULTHOOD

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LONG TERM ALCOHOL EFFECTS INTO ADULTHOOD

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There are many long term effects from drinking as a teen, but some include:
- High blood pressure
- Multiple cancers, including breast, mouth, and throat
- Weakened immune system
- Memory problems
- Depression or anxiety

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There are several short term effects from drug use/abuse in teens, but some include:
- Sleepiness
- Altered depth perception
- Hallucinations
- Raised or lowered blood pressure

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There are a plethora short term effects from tobacco use as a teen, but some include:
- Chronic coughing
- Yellowed teeth
- Gum disease
- Tooth loss

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There are many short term effects from drinking/binge-drinking in teens, but some include:
- Yellowed teeth and bad breath
- Becoming tipsy or even drunk
- Hangover and/or Blackout
- Alcohol Poisoning

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Here are high schooler drug use statistics:
- 15% have used specific illicit drugs
- 14% have misused prescription drugs
- 29% said they were sexually active, and 19% said that they have used drugs
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Here are high schooler drinking statistics:
- 29% drank alcohol
- 14% binge drank
- 5% of drivers drove after drinking
- 17% rode with a driver who had alcohol

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Here are high schooler tobacco use statistics:
- 90% of adults started smoking before the age of 18
- 85% have used a flavored tobacco product
- 20% have used e-cigarettes
- 5% have used cigarettes

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REASONS WHY TEENS START USING/ABUSING TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, OR OTHER DRUGS.

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REASONS WHY TEENS START USING/ABUSING TOBACCO, ALCOHOL, OR OTHER DRUGS.

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There are several reasons as to why teens would start using these, but some include:
- A bad home-life/neglectful parents
- Having too much stress in their life
- To look cool
- Because someone they know has tried it
- They believe it will improve their academic performance
- Peer pressure