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Dangerous Liaisons: Teens, Alcohol, Marijuana and Sexual Assault
Did you know that teens who drink or use drugs are much more likely to have sex, and more likely to get a sexually transmitted disease? That’s because teens make impulsive decisions while drinking alcohol or consuming marijuana. And oftentimes, the perpetrator of the sexual assault is actually targeting teen girls or boys, because of their inexperience. By plying them with alcohol or drugs, it becomes easier to take advantage of them or convince them to participate in behavior they normally wouldn’t.
It’s also true that teens who drink or do drugs are less likely to use birth control protection like condoms, which can result in unplanned pregnancies and STDs (sexually transmitted diseases.)
- 60% of sexual assaults involved alcohol
- One in four teenagers will experience sexual or nonsexual abuse by the time they finish college or turn 21
- Teen girls who experience dating violence are more likely to binge drink (four of more alcoholic drinks within a short time period)
When you talk to your teen about the dangers of drinking or doing drugs before they are 21, it’s a good idea to mention this information. Most teens never think about getting an STD, pregnant or sexually assaulted just because they had alcohol or marijuana.
(SAMSHA report, 2010 and Center for Disease Control and Prevention) |
What Teens are Like in 2016
If you’ve got a teen, you know how mercurial they can be. One minute they are on top of the world, and they next, they have no friends, no future, no fun. One minute they’re hooked on a video game, then they’re on to the next thing.
But what do teens in American really have in common? Business Insider spoke to 60 teens ages 13-19 across the U.S. They were all students, whether in middle school, high school or college. They were asked about their digital lives, politics, pop culture, games and habits. Every student owned a smartphone and most either owned or used a gaming console, desktop computer or tablet regularly. Here are a few insights from the interviews:
Teens Talk on the Phone A Lot. But They Don’t Want to Talk About It.
On average, they spend about six hours a day on the phone, whether they are in or out of school. But here’s the shocker—they spend 11 hours a day in front of a variety of screens—tablets, desktops, TV, phone and gaming devices.
Teens Have Favorite Apps. And They’re Different Than What You May Think.
Snap chat is the favorite, by far. It’s an easy way to let friends know what they’re doing, plus photos.
Spotify is considered the best music app.
Instagram is a favorite, because of its direct-message feature.
Twitter is well liked, but Facebook is not. Why? “Because my parents and my friends’ parents are my Facebook friends. I can’t be myself.” But they do like Facebook Messenger. Go figure.
Apps on the un-cool list? Google +, Whisper and Vine.
While it isn’t an app, teens also love Netflix.
Which Celebrities Do Teens Like?
You won’t be surprised by names like Taylor Swift, Justin Timberlake, Jimmy Fallon, Justin Bieber, One Direction and Drake. But “Hamilton” creator and co-star Lin-Manuel Hamilton? He’s a biggie. They also like YouTube and Vine stars like Brendon Urie, Shawn Mendes, Logal Paul, Lele Pons, Hannah Hart and Alx James.
Interestingly enough, they’re favorite media source is BuzzFeed. However, when it comes to slang, if it’s featured on BuzzFeed, it’s no longer cool. And speaking of uncool, the Kardashians are not cool to teenagers. They do like Kendall Jenner, but “she’s not a Kardashian.”
At the end of the day, it’s all about staying connected—and FOMO (fear of missing out). Not that different from other generations—just different tools! |
Teens and Halloween: Keep Them Safe
It’s that time of year, when the holidays start rolling in—the first being Halloween. If you’ve got a teenager, Halloween is very different for them now, than when they were young. They have different ideas about how to spend Halloween. Some may still want to go trick or treating, but oftentimes homeowners aren’t as happy to see teens as they are the cute little kids in kitten and Power Ranger costumes. In order to make sure your teen has a great—and safe—Halloween, it’s a good idea to share some tips with them.
- Review the laws with your teen. Make sure they understand community curfews, laws about private property, alcohol and drugs. Let them know that law enforcement will be out in full force on Halloween, and they don’t want to misbehave.
- Coach your teen about NOT using social media. Sometimes teens make mistakes and then text or post incriminating evidence. Make sure they understand the importance of keeping their social media clean, to avoid future problems regarding college applications or job opportunities.
- Recruit them to hand out treats at your home. Instead of them going out ask them to make Halloween special for the kids coming by.
- If they do go out, make sure they are wearing light colored clothing or reflective wear or marking on their costumes. There are those who will call the police if they see teens lurking about in dark clothing—fair or not—and you don’t want them to get in trouble.
- Talk to them about driving safety. Remind them that little children are out and about and aren’t paying attention. Encourage them to take it slow and be on the lookout for unpredictable kids.
- Provide a curfew for them, and make sure they understand the consequences if they miss it.
- Remind them never to get in a vehicle with a driver that has been drinking alcohol or using marijuana or other drugs.
- Hide the eggs, toilet paper stash and other “trickster” favorites. Better safe than sorry.
- Offer to host a Halloween “scary movie marathon” at your home for them and their friends. Provide snacks and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Limit the number of people who can ride with them in their car. The more kids in the car, the more distractions.
With a little guidance, Halloween can still be a fun holiday for your teens. Here’s to a safe and happy Halloween to you and your family!
Nomie Ketterling is the Coordinator for Weld County Prevention Partners, the coalition against underage drinking and drug use. She was also recently named as an Outstanding Woman of Weld County by Friends of a Woman’s Place. For more information about underage drinking, drugs, parenting tips and more, visit www.wcpreventionpartners.org. |
Did You Know? Surprising Facts About Marijuana To Share With Your Teen
- The potency of marijuana has more than tripled in the U.S. since the 1990s.
- In the Netherlands, marijuana’s THC levels are regulated to be 15% or less. In Colorado, the average potency is 17.1 percent in flowers/buds and the average potency in concentrates is 62.1%
- Colorado ranks first in the nation for the use of marijuana by youth ages 12+.
- Research now shows marijuana is harmful to developing brains of adolescents, which may result in psychotic symptoms, schizophrenia, drug addiction and lower IQs.
- The rise of high-potency marijuana has coincided with increases in hospitalizations and poison center calls in Colorado.
- A major study published in Lancet Psychiatry Journal found that youth using marijuana daily had a 60% higher chance of never completing high school.
- The same study found that kids who begin using marijuana before the age of 17 are 7 times more likely to commit suicide than those who don’t.
- In Colorado, one of three high school seniors report using marijuana before they were 15.
- Young people who use marijuana regularly are more likely to have memory issues, difficulty learning and lower math and reading scores.
- Marijuana is addictive. It’s harder to stop using marijuana if you start at a young age.
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Lock It Up
With the holidays coming up, more kids will be home when parents may be at work—during the Thanksgiving or December and New Year’s holidays. That’s why it’s more important than ever to make sure you keep alcohol, prescription drugs and even marijuana in your home locked up—not just put on a shelf or in the back of a drawer.
Yes, you can probably trust your teen. But you may not be able to trust their friends, or their friends of friends who may be spending time at your home.
Give yourself some peace of mind and remove temptation. The last thing you want is for teens to get in trouble with alcohol or drugs in your home—or, worse yet, get into a vehicle when they have been drinking or using drugs. Let’s make this a safe—and worry free–holiday season. Lock it up! |
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