It is not uncommon for adolescents to experiment with a variety of substances. However, studies have shown that children who experiment with substances at a young age are more likely to use other drugs later in life (Focus Adolescent Services, 2000). For example, an estimated 40% of youth who begin drinking at or before the age of 14 years will become dependent on alcohol (Schneider Institute for Health Policy, 2001).
Some adolescents’ exposure may be limited to experimentation, but others may develop a dependency, potentially experiment with other dangerous drugs and even cause significant harm to themselves and others. In a national survey conducted in 2003, half of all high school seniors reported that they had tried illicit drugs at least once (Snyder & Sickmund, 2006). The survey also revealed that 41% of 10th grade students and 23% of 8th grade students had tried illegal drugs. Marijuana was the most frequently-used drug, as reported by 46% of the 12th grade students participating in the survey. More than three-quarters of these students also reported experimenting with alcohol: recent heavy drinking was reported by 28% of seniors,
22% of 10th graders and 12% of 8th graders. Another survey conducted by the U.S. Substance Abuse and
Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) examined the past year and lifetime prevalence rates for alcohol use among youth ages 12 to 17 (National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 2007).
These findings are alarming because substance use among youth has been associated with a number of negative consequences, including physical aggression, academic and occupational problems, delinquency and criminal behavior, developmental problems and long-term health problems (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007). In addition, children and adolescents who become chronic substance users often develop psychological or social problems. Studies of males entering the juvenile justice