Do School Programs Prevent Kids Using Drugs?
Do School Programs Prevent Kids Using Drugs?
In many ways, school programs can be an effective way to prevent kids using drugs. Substance abuse, in general, has become a national epidemic in the U.S. Sadly, the demographic most affected by addiction crisis issues are young adults of school age. These are the ones that easily by far get afflicted and addicted the most. However, young adults truly do suffer a lot more than older adults. They become addicted more easily. Also, they have a higher likelihood of relapsing. Their odds of dying of an overdose and getting into accidents are also higher.
Drug Addiction Statistics
Addictions are definitely a rising concern and crisis in our Nation. The main question at this point is how to address the addiction issues.
- Six out of ten teenagers said at least some students at their schools use drugs. Among high school students, the number was eight out of ten.
- Crystal meth abuse is at its worst among the nation’s youth. This is particularly troublesome as the youth is the future. For example, in 2007, four and a half percent of high-school seniors and four percent of tenth-grade students reported using methamphetamine at least once in their lives. A high percentage of those who admitted to using meth once also admitted to being heavily addicted to meth.
- Cocaine is becoming increasingly more popular among young adults. For example, among high-school students in the U.S., almost ten percent of twelfth graders had used cocaine. These statistics are according to the special 2006 Monitoring the Future Study done by the NIDA.
- Sadly, drug and alcohol abuse and addiction is now a much bigger problem in our schools than ever before. Studies show that about one out of every school-age adolescent have tried a hard, illegal, street drug by the time he or she turned eighteen. One out of every five such students tries prescription drugs for abusive purposes before completing school or before turning eighteen. About fifty percent of them abuse marijuana or alcohol before age eighteen.
- In one particular study, non-medical users of prescription stimulants skipped 16.1 percent of their classes. In contrast, non-users skipped only 9.4 percent of their classes. Studies also show that the most common source of prescription stimulants for students was a friend with a legitimate prescription. The non-medical use of prescription stimulants is more common among students now. Studies show no less than 4.1 percent to 10.8 percent of college students reported using prescription stimulants for non-medical purposes during the past year.
School Systems Can’t Prevent Kids Using Drugs Alone
These factors and statistics are concerning, to say the least. Though they are trying hard to do so, it would appear that American school systems are not entirely capable of finding enough ways to prevent kids using drugs. This issue is concerning and it needs to be addressed far sooner rather than later. It most definitely is a problem and it will continue to be a problem until something major is done about it. Now more than ever, parents and concerned citizens all across the nation need to do something about the deadly and dangerous addiction problem that is happening in their schools. There are many organizations besides the schools that are trying to prevent kids using drugs. Together, they can all make a difference.
