According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, approximately 3 million people in the United States tried LSD, marijuana, cocaine, or ecstasy for the first time in 2017.
Many of those first-timers were teenagers.
So, what if we could know the time of year teenagers most often experiment with drugs? Perhaps then parents and teachers would be in a better position to warn them about the risk of drug use in a timely fashion.
Researchers at NYU School of Medicine may have just provided us with that answer.
A newly completed study of nearly 400,000 people in the U.S. suggests summertime is the season of highest drug experimentation.
The NYU researchers “found that over a third (34 percent) of recent LSD initiates first used the drug in the summer. In addition, 30 percent of marijuana, 30 percent of ecstasy (also known as MDMA or Molly), and 28 percent of cocaine use was found to begin in summer months.”
Why summertime?
The answer appears to be as simple. Teenagers have far more time for recreation in the summer. They often have less adult supervision as well.
Why is this information important?
Many of the drugs that are easily accessible to teenagers are dangerous. What’s more – first-time users are often unaware of those dangers and unfamiliar with a drug’s effects – leaving them vulnerable to harm.
If you are the parent, here are some tips to help you talk to your kids about drug and alcohol use:
Start talking to your children about the dangers of drugs and alcohol when they are young.
Set a good example.
Set clear boundaries and expectations for your kids.
Try to create a positive and supportive environment at home. Work on your emotional connections with your children
Confront problems quickly.
Be clear about the real-world dangers associated with drug and alcohol use.
If you are struggling with an addiction to drugs and/or alcohol and need help in Connecticut, New Hampshire or Southern Maine, the recovery teams at Aware Recovery Care are here to help. Our unique model of care is giving clients a significantly better chance of recovery when compared to traditional inpatient rehab care. To learn more or to talk to one of our Recovery Specialists, visit www.awarerecoverycare.com.
