By Brian Bethel
A recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that youths between the ages of 12 and 17 are more likely to start using drugs, alcohol and cigarettes during the summer than other portions of the year.
The findings struck a chord with some. Rod Pruitt, Safe and Effective Schools Services consultant for the Region 14 Education Service Center, said that June is "purported to be the month that marijuana is used more than any other month in the year."
"That's anecdotal from when I did crisis counseling working with runaways, truants and first offenders," he said. "But I've heard that statistic given in several different sources."
But Sgt. Brian Cokonougher, youth division school resource officer supervisor, said via email that what Abilene generally sees is a "huge decrease in drug and alcohol-related arrests during the summer months."
"Generally, there is a marked increase in property crime -- graffiti and vandalism -- and at times, violent crime, which subsides when school is back in session," he said.
The SAMHSA report, "Monthly Variation in Substance Use Initiation among Adolescents," found that, on an average day in June and July, more than 11,000 U.S. adolescents ages 12 to 17 use alcohol for the first time, while an average of 5,000 smoked cigarettes for the first time and more than 4,500 first started using marijuana.
Throughout the rest of the year, the daily average for first-time alcohol use ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 adolescents, according to the report, while the daily average of adolescents first smoking a cigarette is about 3,000 to 4,000 during the rest of the year.
Marijuana use sees about 3,000 to 4,000 youths starting use per day during months other than June and July, the report said.
Acadia Abilene, which offers substance abuse programs for ages 13-17, sees a steady number of participants throughout the year, said Sam Scarborough, community liaison for the mental health provider, with no particular spikes in the summertime.
Continue Reading: reporternews.com
A recent report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration indicates that youths between the ages of 12 and 17 are more likely to start using drugs, alcohol and cigarettes during the summer than other portions of the year.
The findings struck a chord with some. Rod Pruitt, Safe and Effective Schools Services consultant for the Region 14 Education Service Center, said that June is "purported to be the month that marijuana is used more than any other month in the year."
"That's anecdotal from when I did crisis counseling working with runaways, truants and first offenders," he said. "But I've heard that statistic given in several different sources."
But Sgt. Brian Cokonougher, youth division school resource officer supervisor, said via email that what Abilene generally sees is a "huge decrease in drug and alcohol-related arrests during the summer months."
"Generally, there is a marked increase in property crime -- graffiti and vandalism -- and at times, violent crime, which subsides when school is back in session," he said.
The SAMHSA report, "Monthly Variation in Substance Use Initiation among Adolescents," found that, on an average day in June and July, more than 11,000 U.S. adolescents ages 12 to 17 use alcohol for the first time, while an average of 5,000 smoked cigarettes for the first time and more than 4,500 first started using marijuana.
Throughout the rest of the year, the daily average for first-time alcohol use ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 adolescents, according to the report, while the daily average of adolescents first smoking a cigarette is about 3,000 to 4,000 during the rest of the year.
Marijuana use sees about 3,000 to 4,000 youths starting use per day during months other than June and July, the report said.
Acadia Abilene, which offers substance abuse programs for ages 13-17, sees a steady number of participants throughout the year, said Sam Scarborough, community liaison for the mental health provider, with no particular spikes in the summertime.
Continue Reading: reporternews.com
Leave a comment