Yep… Your Teen May Know a Drug Dealer

In an annual back-to-school survey just released by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, results find that 90% of American high school students are reporting their classmates — which comes to nearly 3 million students — using illicit drugs, including alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs, during the school day.

HealthDay News reported on the survey’s findings:

44% of high schoolers say they know a drug dealer who goes to their school.50% of those polled say they know of a place near their school where students can drink and get high during the school day.More than 1/3 say that students definitely have opportunities during the school day to take drugs, drink and smoke without getting caught.

And get this — 75% of teens say that social media only encourages the party mentality. Sites like Facebook and Twitter are like visual peer pressures! “Seeing photos of other teens partying… made them want to do the same. Nearly half of teens who have seen such pictures perceived that the teens in the photos ‘are having a good time.’ Kids who had seen such photos were three to four times more likely to have used marijuana, alcohol or tobacco compared to kids who had not viewed this type of picture.”

Both parents and school staff members must be aware of student and teen online activity, and parents especially should work to learn with whom their children are associating. Online history should be checked and monitored regularly, and Internet rules should be in place.

Whether it’s inappropriate photos shared on social networking sites, or suspicious Google searches regarding drugs, alcohol or anything that makes the parent uncomfortable, the Internet is a valuable blueprint for teens today — and while the young mind is certainly allowed to be curious and wander online and off, parents should be aware that for teens, drugs are more readily available than ever, and there are definitely fellow students more than willing to provide them.