Cautioning teens to steer clear of substances that could be hazardous to their health is a normal and important part of raising an adolescent. And, although unsettling, it's certainly not news that many teens still choose to experiment when their friends egg them on to take a puff of this cigarette, a swig of that beer, or a quick hit off a joint. But what might surprise some parents is that more girls are now drinking, smoking, and doing drugs — and putting their health at serious risk.
A recent story in The Washington Post cited some disturbing trends:
- A 2006 survey by Columbia University's National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) found that 12- to 17-year-old girls' risk of substance abuse was just as high as — if not higher than — boys'.
- Also in 2006, the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reported that more girls were smoking and abusing prescription drugs than boys (just as teenage boys' drug abuse rates were going down).
- Emergency medicine doctors at the Center for Trauma and Injury Prevention Research at the University of California at Irvine Medical School recently discovered that although boy drivers had more accidents between 2000 and 2004, the rates of crashes with girls behind the wheel is starting to creep up.
What This Means to You
During the teen years, kids are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. Their increasing need for independence may make teens want to defy their parents' wishes or instructions as a way of asserting their independence. And, although it might seem like boys are the main ones "getting into trouble," that's often not the reality. Girls are just as likely to face the same kinds of pressures to fit in and try substances that could prove dangerous to their health — or even deadly.
Chances are that most teens will encounter numerous situations that require making a tough decision — to join in or just say no — whether they're girls or boys.
When they make a split-second choice that may seem like "no big deal," it can be hard for kids and teens to care about what might happen to them now or down the road if their experimentation turns into a habit. But talking about the effects substance abuse could have today may hit home far more than warnings about long-term consequences.
When it comes to smoking cigarettes, some truly unappealing problems include:
- pale, wrinkly skin
- yellow teeth
- stained clothes
- bad-smelling breath and clothes
- a nagging, unattractive cough
- feeling tired or cranky
- trouble breathing, making it harder to be physically active and play sports
- an emptier wallet — smoking is really expensive
And on top of the real possibility of a dangerous and possibly deadly overdose, drinking and drugs can have serious current side effects like:
- distorted vision, hearing, and coordination
- altered perceptions and emotions
- impaired judgment — which can lead to accidents, drowning, and other risky behaviors like unsafe sex
Plus, for girls, getting drunk or high can make them extremely vulnerable to crimes like sexual assault and date rape.
To help both sons and daughters make the right decisions about smoking, drinking, and doing drugs, no matter what their age:
- Establish firm rules — and consequences — for using alcohol, tobacco, or drugs at all — even just a little sip or a quick drag.
- Motivate them to make the right decisions by giving freedoms like a later curfew or a driver's license. Teach them that freedom comes only with responsibility.
- Arm them with ways to respond to peer pressure. Some kids might feel confident simply saying "no, thanks." But also offer alternative responses like, "I hate the way it makes me look" or "Beer makes me feel sick to my stomach." Or, let them blame you: "My mom said she'll take away my car if she smells smoke on me" or "My dad said I'd be grounded for a month if I drink."
- Encourage kids to walk away from friends who don't respect their decision not to experiment with dangerous substances.
- Talk about the legal issues — that it's against the law for kids to buy cigarettes or to drink or do drugs.
- Remind them to leave any situation that feels uncomfortable. Make sure they have money for transportation or a phone number where you or another responsible adult can be reached.
- Emphasize that it's never OK to drive when they've been drinking or using drugs or to get in the car with someone who has. You might even want to offer to pick them up — no questions asked — if they're ever in a bad situation. This can help encourage kids to be honest and call when they need help.
- Know your kids' friends. Kids who hang around with peers who drink, smoke, or do drugs are more likely to try it themselves.
- Be involved and show interest. Pay attention to how your kids are feeling and let them know that you're always there to listen. Recognize when they're going through tough times and provide unconditional support or seek additional care if it's needed.
Whatever you do, don't wait to talk about the dangers of alcohol, drugs, and tobacco until the stressful peer pressure of adolescence kicks in. Start the discussions early and continue the say-no message throughout childhood and well into the teen years.
Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: February 2008
Source: "Catching Up to the Boys, in the Good and the Bad: Teen Girls' Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Use on the Rise," The Washington Post, Feb. 10, 2008.
