National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week Shines a Spotlight on Teen Drug Abuse

According to data from the National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics, 46.6% of teenagers try illicit drugs at least once by the time they reach 12th grade. The same organization reports that those ages 15 to 24 account for 11.2% of all overdose deaths.

Every year, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) partner to put on National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week – a week-long health observance designed to shed light on concerning statistics such as those outlined above and promote dialogue about the dangers of drug abuse among the country’s youth.

This year, we at St. Jude Labs are doing our part to combat teenage drug abuse and addiction by promoting National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week and highlighting the importance of drug screening.

The Growing Problem of Teenage Drug Abuse

The National Center for Drug Abuse Statistics reports that drug use among 8th graders went up 61% from 2016 to 2020. It isn’t just 8th graders, though, that are abusing drugs at a growing rate; drug addiction and abuse rates have been on the rise for the past several years among all age groups, including teenagers and young adults.

There is a wide range of factors that have led to this rise in drug abuse among teenagers. The growing prevalence of mental health problems among teenagers is one such factor, as teens who don’t reach out for help regarding issues such as anxiety and depression often end up attempting to self-medicate with illicit drugs.

The COVID-19 pandemic is another factor driving rising drug abuse rates among all age groups. Boredom due to social distancing combined with fears and anxieties regarding the pandemic have led many to turn to drugs as an escape.

Finally, relaxing societal norms regarding marijuana use is another factor contributing to rising drug use among teenagers. Of the teenagers who report using illicit drugs, marijuana is the drug of choice for 83.8%. While marijuana may be much safer than most other illicit drugs, it can still have a negative impact on brain development when used by those under the age of 21.

Signs of Teenage Drug Abuse

There are a number of signs that parents, educators, and other adult guardians should look for to identify teenage drug abuse. This includes signs such as:

• Changes in mood or behavior
• Violent or aggressive behavior
• Slipping grades
• Increased secrecy and demands for privacy
• Physical signs such as red eyes, runny nose, and frequent sweating
• Disappearing for long periods of time without saying where they are going
• Criminal behavior/new disregard for rules and authority
• Poor hygiene/no longer caring for personal appearance

All of these signs can be indications that a teenager or young adult is abusing illicit drugs. If you notice any of these signs, scheduling drug screening from a reliable medical testing facility is an essential step to take.

Drug Screening From St. Jude Labs

Helping a teenager recover from drug abuse and addiction starts by identifying the problem. To this end, drug screening plays a vital role in the fight against teenage drug abuse. Teenagers who are addicted to drugs are often surprisingly skilled at hiding their addiction from their parents and teachers. Drug screening, however, leaves no space for dishonesty.

At St. Jude Labs, we are committed to helping reduce the horrible impact of teenage drug abuse through fast and reliable drug screening tests. These tests are able to identify the presence of any illicit drug, including opiates, marijuana, methamphetamine, heroin, and everything in-between.If you are concerned that your child is abusing drugs there’s no time to wait. The road to recovery starts with identifying the problem, and drug screening is the key to this all-important first step. To schedule an appointment for drug screening from the medical testing professionals at St. Jude Labs, be sure to contact us today.