02/09/2024

CDC Warns Stress is Driving Some Kids to Abuse Alcohol, Drugs

Many cited their use as a way to feel mellow or relaxed

Supporting and improving mental health could have a direct impact on substance use among teens in the United States, according to a new study from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Teens who were being assessed for treatment for substance use disorder were asked to identify their motivations for using drugs and alcohol. About 9,500 responses were collected between 2014 and 2022.

The most common reason that teens said they turned to drugs and alcohol was to feel mellow, calm or relaxed, with nearly three-quarters citing this reason. Many other top reasons were related to methods to cope with stress, with 44 percent saying they use substances to stop worrying about a problem or forget bad memories and 40 percent said they use substances to help with depression or anxiety.

Please select this link to read the complete article from CNN.