Teenage Girls are in Drug Dependency Crisis

A new survey conducted by the Partnership for a Drug Free America has some troubling news for parents:  teenage girls may perceive more benefit from drugs and alcohol than teenage boys do.

Historically, parents of teenage boys have been more attune to the potential for alcohol issues than have parents of teenage girls.  However, the study shows that 70% of the girls surveyed believed that drugs and alcohol could help them cope with problems at home.  More than 50% of them believed that chemical substances could help them forget their problems.

Boys drink for different reasons ; the same survey shows that boys typically drink or use drugs to make social encounters more doable and parties more fun.

Simply put, teenage boys use drugs for the "fun" of it, while girls use and drink to cope with the complexities of life.

The survey also showed an 11% increase in alcohol use in girls; conversely, the number of boys using alcohol only rose 2% (from 2008-2009).

Perhaps more alarmingly, the number of girls smoking pot rose 29%; marijuana use in boys rose 15%.

According to WebMd, some signs of alcohol abuse are falling grades, lack of interest in formerly enjoyed activities, and withdrawal from friends and family.  The problem is that these are also signs of depression, and of, well, just being a teenager!

The researchers conducting the survey advise parents to consider the possibility that drugs and/or alcohol may be the reason for some of these symptoms.  Parents' tendency to believe girls are less likely to drink and use than boys can be a detrimental mindset; this belief could ultimately put off the intervention process.

For more information on drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers, check out the Partnership for a Drug Free America website.  Teachers and parents can find a wealth of information on signs, symptoms, and treatment options.