Tools and Approaches for Preventing Adolescent Drug Use
By Deanna Valdez | November 2024
The landscape related to adolescent substance use has changed significantly in the 21st century. The drugs used by teens today are very different than the drugs used even a decade ago. The average age of first-time use in the United States is 14 years old and even younger in many states. Prevention and intervention approaches related to substance use have progressed and are successfully supporting individuals through the challenges of addiction, but mental health stigma and specifically addiction-related stigma can hinder these otherwise helpful approaches.
The sting of addiction-related stigma can be felt most strongly and frequently by people with addictions. Adolescents are no different, yet often don’t get the support or services needed for treatment and recovery. The stigma is also experienced by their family, friends, coworkers and employers. Addiction-related stigma often makes youth with addiction and their supporters, including school counselors, feel powerless, angry and frustrated. Development and changes occurring in adolescent brains and bodies can magnify these feelings for adolescents.
Harm reduction strategies, stigma awareness, effective communication and conversations are designed to empower and provide practical tools by which individuals can become involved in substance use prevention and intervention. As the landscape changes, so must our approaches to prevention and intervention related to adolescent substance use. Communication, harm reduction and anti-stigma strategies can empower adolescents and adults, including school counselors, to work together to change attitudes and behaviors related to adolescent drug use.
Data related to youth substance use continues to reflect a serious problem that is becoming more prevalent and deadlier. According to a 2019 national survey study, the opioid epidemic is taking a toll on adolescents and young adults with opioid poisoning and overdoses on the rise. The risk of progression to opioid use disorder and other substance misuse is well documented for youth exposed to prescription opioids. However, the CDC’s most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 2021 showed a decrease in drug use from the previous survey in 2019. Whether this was just a fleeting result of the pandemic or a more promising trend, hopeful news comes with another YRBS conducted within the decade that inspiringly shows that students with higher academic grades are less likely to engage in drug use, such as using marijuana, taking prescription drugs without a prescription or using heroin. These results from the YRBS provide evidence of a significant link between academic grades and using drugs. At a macro level, community health professionals, school personnel and other stakeholders can use this information to better understand the associations between drug use and grades and to develop and reinforce policies, practices and programs that support healthy behaviors.
At a micro level, school counselors can use the data to inform their direct work with and support for students through prevention, intervention and education. What follows are helpful ideas, strategies and resources related to the adolescent brain, harm reduction, stigma and effective communication that school counselors can utilize in their work with students.
Deanna Valdez, Ph.D., LPCC, NCC, is a school counselor in Albuquerque, N.M.
The sting of addiction-related stigma can be felt most strongly and frequently by people with addictions. Adolescents are no different, yet often don’t get the support or services needed for treatment and recovery. The stigma is also experienced by their family, friends, coworkers and employers. Addiction-related stigma often makes youth with addiction and their supporters, including school counselors, feel powerless, angry and frustrated. Development and changes occurring in adolescent brains and bodies can magnify these feelings for adolescents.
Harm reduction strategies, stigma awareness, effective communication and conversations are designed to empower and provide practical tools by which individuals can become involved in substance use prevention and intervention. As the landscape changes, so must our approaches to prevention and intervention related to adolescent substance use. Communication, harm reduction and anti-stigma strategies can empower adolescents and adults, including school counselors, to work together to change attitudes and behaviors related to adolescent drug use.
Data related to youth substance use continues to reflect a serious problem that is becoming more prevalent and deadlier. According to a 2019 national survey study, the opioid epidemic is taking a toll on adolescents and young adults with opioid poisoning and overdoses on the rise. The risk of progression to opioid use disorder and other substance misuse is well documented for youth exposed to prescription opioids. However, the CDC’s most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) in 2021 showed a decrease in drug use from the previous survey in 2019. Whether this was just a fleeting result of the pandemic or a more promising trend, hopeful news comes with another YRBS conducted within the decade that inspiringly shows that students with higher academic grades are less likely to engage in drug use, such as using marijuana, taking prescription drugs without a prescription or using heroin. These results from the YRBS provide evidence of a significant link between academic grades and using drugs. At a macro level, community health professionals, school personnel and other stakeholders can use this information to better understand the associations between drug use and grades and to develop and reinforce policies, practices and programs that support healthy behaviors.
At a micro level, school counselors can use the data to inform their direct work with and support for students through prevention, intervention and education. What follows are helpful ideas, strategies and resources related to the adolescent brain, harm reduction, stigma and effective communication that school counselors can utilize in their work with students.
- YSBIRT (Youth Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment) is an evidence-based framework to identify, reduce and prevent alcohol and drug use, misuse and dependence.
- A highly impactful YouTube video titled Unlocking the Adolescent Mind by Dan Siegel is helpful in showing students and parents/caregivers how substance use can impact an adolescent’s brain development.
- With psychoeducation, skill building is immensely important in prevention. Communication, decision making, problem solving, conflict resolution, delayed gratification and refusal skills are important skills to teach youth. In her books “How to Say No and Keep Your Friends” and “Peer Pressure Reversal for Teen and Preteens,” Sharon Scott shares skills and strategies that build refusal skills.
- Four verbs form the LOVE acronym that helps people remember communication skills: Listening, Offering, Validating and Empathizing. The 20 Minute Guide offers more information on effective communication related to substance use.
- The Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit and Cannabis Awareness & Prevention Toolkit developed by Stanford Medicine offer comprehensive classroom lessons related to substance use prevention and education.
Deanna Valdez, Ph.D., LPCC, NCC, is a school counselor in Albuquerque, N.M.