You may think of your middle schooler as still a child, innocent and naïve, not even thinking about drugs and alcohol. And for some families that is the case. However, you might be surprised that it is not the case for everyone. Over the past ten years, middle school drug use has increased, with more than 8 % of 8th graders admitting to using illicit drugs. This drug use can start as young as 11 or 12! The statistics for alcohol use is even higher, with 28 % of 8th graders admitting to trying alcohol, and 11% of these kids reporting getting drunk at least once.
Which drugs are the middle schoolers using most? Marijuana tops the list. Middle School kids are not only smoking marijuana, but they are also buying and selling brownies and cookies that are laced with the drug. Even the middle school students who don’t use marijuana report that is easy to get, and an alarming amount of students (42 %!) don’t believe that regular use of the drug is harmful.
Inhalants are also a major concern among middle school students. Inhalants are household items that give off noxious fumes that kids can use to get high. Some of these items include gasoline; paint thinner, markers and glue. These items are readily available in most households, which is the main reason middle school student are so likely to abuse inhalants. Inhalants can be very dangerous and can even cause death, called Sudden Sniffing Syndrome.
Middle School students are also likely to abuse over the counter medications for the same reason, they are easy to obtain. Many households have these over the counter cold medications where anyone can access them, and most drugstores do not have an age limit on who can buy these medications.
How can we stop this epidemic? Talk to your kids. Start talking to them about the dangers of drug abuse long before you think they may need to talk about it. Start talking to them in Elementary School. Studies show that the kids who experiment with drugs and alcohol early in life are more likely to smoke cigarettes, more likely to become addicted to drugs or alcohol, and the more likely they have of having chronic criminal offenses. Talk to your kids, and if you suspect a problem, seek help immediately.