08 Mar Teens on social media are at an increased risk of drinking and drug use
Parents need to add increased substance abuse risk to the list of reasons to monitor their child’s time online.
American teens ages 12-17 who in a typical day spend any time on social networking sites are at increased risk of underage drinking and drug use, according to the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents, a survey conducted by The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University.
Facebook is the most popular and frequently used social media platform among American teens ages 13 to 17, with 71% of all teens using the site, according to the Pew Research Center. Instagram and Snapchat follow in teen use with 52% using Instagram and 41% using Snapchat.
Compared to teens that spend no time on social networking sites in a typical day, teens that do are:
- 5 times likelier to use tobacco
- 3 times likelier to use alcohol
- 2 times as likely to use marijuana
The CASAColumbia survey also found that 40% of all teens surveyed have seen pictures on social networking sites of kids getting drunk, passed out, or using drugs. Half of teens who have seen these pictures first saw such pictures when they were 13 years of age or younger; more than 90% first saw such pictures when they were 15 or younger.
Compared to teens that have never seen pictures of kids getting drunk, passed out, or using drugs on social networking sites, teens that have seen these images are:
- 3 times likelier to use alcohol
- 4 times likelier to use marijuana
- 4 times likelier to be able to get marijuana
- Almost 3 times likelier to be able to get controlled prescription drugs without a prescription
- More than two times as likely to be able to get alcohol in a day or less
Of course these statistics don’t guarantee all teens will develop a substance abuse problem if they’re on social media sites, but it adds one more thing to monitor and talk to your kids about. Remember, you are the biggest influence on your kids’ decisions.