Summer is here! It’s a time when teens can unwind, relax, and enjoy spending time with friends after a busy school year. However, these laid-back summer days can also pose risks to youth mental health and increase the likelihood of substance misuse. In fact, statistics show that youth substance use tends to rise during the summer months.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the summer months see a significant rise in adolescent substance initiation:
- Alcohol: On average, more than 11,000 youths try alcohol for the first time each day in June and July, compared to about 5,000 to 8,000 new users per day during other months.
- Cigarettes: Approximately 5,000 youths smoke cigarettes for the first time daily during these months, whereas the daily average is about 3,000 to 4,000 in other months.
- Marijuana: More than 4,800 youths use marijuana for the first time each day in June and July, compared to about 3,000 to 4,000 in other months.
Additionally, a study by the NYU School of Medicine found that about one-third of first-time use of substances like marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, and LSD occurs during the summer months.
Substance use often goes up during the summer for a few reasons. When school is out, teens have more free time and are often left alone more, which can lead to risky choices. Summer parties and hangouts also make it easier for them to be around drugs or alcohol and feel pressure from friends to try them. On top of that, there’s usually less adult supervision, so teens may have more chances to experiment. Summer can also be a challenging time for teen mental health due to reduced access to resources, increased social isolation, and unique stressors—all of which may contribute to a rise in substance use as a coping mechanism.
To help prevent substance use during the summer, parents and communities can take a few simple steps. It's important to talk openly with kids about the dangers of drugs and alcohol, set clear rules, and keep track of where they are and who they’re with. Encouraging teens to join safe, fun activities or building responsibility by getting a job, can also give them better ways to spend their time. By doing these things, families and communities can support young people in making healthier choices over the summer.
There are helpful resources available to support parents in talking with their kids about substance use. The Partnership to End Addiction offers practical tips at
www.drugfree.org/skill-building, including how to stay calm when your child pushes your buttons, how to talk with your teen instead of arguing, ways to encourage healthy choices, set fair limits, and positively use consequences.
For more information, contact the NE Prevention Resource Center at the Human Service Agency at (605) 884-3516 or visit
www.humanserviceagency.org/NEPrevention. To stay informed, follow us on Facebook
www.facebook.com/NEPRC.HSA or Twitter
www.twitter.com/NE_Prevention.
Article by: Stephanie Kinnander
Stephanie is a Prevention Specialist with the NE Prevention Resource Center at the Human Service Agency.