Teen Substance Use & Risks

"Parents play a critical role in their children’s lives. As their children grow to pre-teens and teens, parents worry about new risks they may experience. One such risk is the use of substances, such as alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and other drugs. Parents can help by talking to their teen’s pediatrician about screening for substance use.

Substance use by teens can have a big impact on their health and well-being. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed a guide for implementing substance use screening in pediatric practices to help pediatricians address substance use concerns. The AAP recommends screening for substance use in children, starting at 9 years of age.

Substance Use Among Teens

The guide highlights the most commonly used substances and the extent of the problem, such as

• Alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco are substances most commonly used by adolescents.¹
• By 12th grade, about two-thirds of students have tried alcohol.¹
• About half of 9th through 12th grade students reported ever having used marijuana.²
• About 4 in 10 9th through 12th grade students reported having tried cigarettes.³
• Among 12th graders, close to 2 in 10 reported using prescription medicine without a prescription.¹

Although it is illegal for people under 21 years of age to drink alcohol, the findings show that people from 12 to 20 years of age consume about one-tenth of all alcohol consumed in the United States..."
Teen susbtance abuse