About This Lesson
www.drugrehab.com/teens/middle-school/
Your child’s middle school years are a time of rapid growth, intense curiosity and strong desire to fit in with peers. This early adolescent phase is also a high-risk period for substance abuse because it typically marks the first point in their lives when they’ll encounter drugs and alcohol.
Nearly one-third of middle schoolers say that students keep, use or sell drugs in their school. And while most middle schoolers don’t use drugs and alcohol, those who do engage in drug use and underage drinkingare headed down a dangerous path.
Trends Among Middle Schoolers
While drug use among middle schoolers is significantly lower than drug use among high school students, it’s still a problem. Nearly a quarter of kids in middle school say they’ve tried alcohol at some point in their life, and 18 percent of eighth-graders report having tried an illicit drug during their lifetime. Of particular concern are a recent uptick in marijuana use among preteens and a spike in inhalant use.
Other less commonly used drugs among eighth-graders include amphetamines, tranquilizers and hallucinogens. Approximately 1 percent of eighth-graders report having tried LSD, cocaine or steroids, and less than 1 percent have used crack, heroin, methamphetamines or other illicit drugs.
Vaping is also a hot trend among eighth-graders, with nearly 19 percent reporting that they’ve vaped some sort of substance at least once in their lives.
