Health

Common Drugs Used by Teens in Rehab

Despite the increase in the abuse of illicit substances like prescription drugs, research shows that marijuana and alcohol are the two substances most commonly abused by teens in drug rehab.

There is no one drug or other substance that teens are particularly susceptible to try or become addicted to, according to a recent report from the government’s Office of Applied Studies. However, there are certain drugs and other substances that are far more likely to be abused by teens. Researchers with the OAS reviewed information from national surveys on drug abuse and drug rehabs to attempt to learn more about the particularly dangers to teens when it comes to substance abuse and which drugs and other illicit substances are most common for teens who end up in drug and alcohol addiction centers.

In 2008, 141,683 patients from ages 12 to 17 were admitted into substance abuse treatment centers in the United States - that worked out to 372 adolescents entering a drug or alcohol rehab program every day. Reviewing the types of substances used by adolescents who checked into rehab on an average day gives a clear indication of the types of drugs and other substances that are currently being abused by youths today.

The most common drug used by teens checking into drug treatment is little surprise - marijuana. According to information from the 2008 Treatment Episode Data Set (TEDS) supplied by treatment facilities that receive public funding, on an average day 263 youths entered an addiction program and “presented” with having recently smoked pot. That represents more than 70 percent of all adolescents checking into a treatment center and certainly helps to support the notion that marijuana abuse by teens can often serve as a “gateway” drug to other, “hard” drugs.

Alcohol abuse was also a common problem among people ages 12 to 17 checking into a rehab program. In an average day in 2008, 76 youths were entered into a rehab center with a history of recent alcohol abuse — more than 20 percent of the total youth rehab population. That’s more than the numbers for all other illicit substances combined, including stimulants, heroin or other opiates and cocaine.

So while it’s important to be mindful of the rise in abuse of prescription drugs and other illicit substances, the fact that marijuana and alcohol are the two most abused substances by teens in drug treatment shows that parents must be aware of everything that their children are doing.