Study: Kids Experiment with Drugs, Alcohol in Summer

Religion Today | Published: Jul 06, 2012

Study: Kids Experiment with Drugs, Alcohol in Summer

A recent study by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) indicates that kids between the ages of 12 and 17 are most likely to experiment with alcohol, tobacco and marijuana for the first time during the summer months, WORLD News Service reports. "Monthly Variation in Substance Use Initiation Among Adolescents," based on SAMHSA's study of 231,000 teens from 2002 to 2010, showed that more than 11,000 of them tried alcohol for the first time in June, July or December; in any other month, only 5,000 to 8,000 try it. The numbers for first-time smokers also peak in summer months -- 5,000, compared to 3,000 to 4,000 during the rest of the year. And more than 4,500 kids will try marijuana for the first time during summer break, compared to 3,000 to 4,000 in any other month. "More free time and less adult supervision can make the summertime an exciting time for many young people, but it can also increase the likelihood of exposure to the dangers of substance abuse," said SAMHSA administrator Pamela S. Hyde. "That is why it is critically important to take every opportunity we can throughout the year to talk to our young people about the real risks of substance abuse and effective measures for avoiding it, so they will be informed and capable of making the right decisions on their own."



Study: Kids Experiment with Drugs, Alcohol in Summer