Social Media and Teen Substance Abuse

Recent studies have linked social media to increased risk of teen drug abuse. According to reuters.com, teen social networkers are "five times more likely to use tobacco, three times more likely to use alcohol, and twice as likely to use marijuana" than non social networking teens. Laid back Internet attitudes and advertising glorifying teen misbehavior are said to be the root of the problem. Often teens post comments, blogs, pictures, and videos of themselves or other teens drunk, passed out, or using drugs on social networking sites. This increases teens ability to get access to drugs and alcohol, as well as their desire to try substances in the future. Nearly 40% of parents admit to not monitoring their teens social networking. Some have gone as far as calling this "electronic child abuse". (reuters.com)

image courtesy thefix.com

Social networking has also been said to negatively effect the recovery of teen substance abusers. These same online drug-related cues that can be held responsible for teens trying drugs and alcohol can also be held accountable for relapse of recovering teen substance abusers. In a study by David Tran of UCLA, 66% of recovering teen substance abusers said that social networking sites made them want to use again, while only 22% said that they used social media to positively promote recovery. Tran believes that this is a huge missed opportunity for teens to have a positive impact on other adolescents through social media interaction. A Facebook group for positive social support for teens is in the works.  Tran hopes to increase the teens' feelings of efficacy and decrease the number of contacts promoting drug and alcohol abuse. (psychiatrictimes.com)

Ashley Rulick 10/4/12