Teens more at risk to try marijuana in summer months

Summer can be a risky time for teens. More teens try marijuana for the first time in June and July than any other time of the year, according to a new report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Each day in June and July, more than 6,300 youths try marijuana for the first time. That's 40 percent more per day than during the rest of the year. The number of new underage drinkers and cigarette smokers also jumps during the summer months.

The increase in new marijuana use is likely due to teens having more unsupervised and unstructured time in the summer. Research shows that unmonitored teens are four times more likely to use marijuana or engage in other risky behaviors.

"Youth marijuana use has declined by 11 percent over the past two years. Despite the good news, the battle of reducing teen drug use is not yet over," said John P. Walters, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. "Kids may equate summer with freedom, but for parents, it's when they need to be even more involved in their teens' lives. By keeping teens busy, knowing who they're with and making sure they're supervised, parents can help prevent their teen's summer from going to pot."

And marijuana is more harmful than some parents think. Marijuana can be addictive and lead to a host of health, social and behavioral problems at a crucial time in kids' lives - when their bodies and brains are still developing. Marijuana use damages lungs, impairs learning and decreases motivation. Kids who use marijuana in early adolescence are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as delinquency, engaging in sexual activity, driving while high, or riding with someone who is under the influence of drugs or alcohol. They are also more likely to perceive drugs as not harmful and to have more friends who exhibit deviant behavior.

Havre kids are at greatest risk between 11 and 16 years of age.

Each year, Havre Public Schools administers the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance assessment to students at the high school, alternative school and middle school.

Four of the assessment questions address marijuana use. While these questions do not address which season of the year marijuana was used, students are asked "How old were you when you tried marijuana for the first time?" Nearly 16 percent of respondents were 11 or 12 years old when they used marijuana for the first time. Just over 19 percent of respondents were 13 or 14 years old. More than 15 percent were 15 or 16 years old. At 17 years of age, the incidence of first-time marijuana use dropped to 2 percent.

Canterbury Consultive Services of Helena administers the YRBS assessment. In its executive summary, the Canterbury researchers asserted that "frequency of alcohol and drug abuse risk behaviors as reported by Havre Middle School respondents were generally consistent with statewide respondents with little variation over the four-year reporting period." However, the frequency of these same behaviors "as reported by Havre High School respondents were consistently higher than statewide respondents. With the exception of alcohol and cocaine, reported usage apparently increased during the four-year reporting period."

Sadly, these findings show that, in general, Havre kids experiment with some risky behaviors at a younger age and continue these risky behaviors throughout their youth at a higher rate than other Montana children. This should prompt parents to maintain close ties with and supervision of their children throughout adolescence, even though adolescent children desire, seek and need increasing freedom. It can be a tough balancing act for any parent.

So how can you stop your teen's summer from going to pot? Here is a drug-free checklist:

Set rules. Have you set clear rules and let your teen know that marijuana use is unacceptable?

Set limits with clear consequences for breaking them. Be sure to balance this with praise and rewards for good behavior.

Understand and communicate. Have you talked to your teen in the past month about the harmful physical, mental and social effects of marijuana and other illicit drugs on young users?

Young people who learn about the risks of drugs at home are up to 50 percent less likely to try drugs than their peers who learn nothing from their parents. Look for teachable moments in everyday life to keep the conversation ongoing.

Monitor your teen's activities and behaviors. Have you checked to see where your teen is, who he is with, and what he is doing?

Teens who are not regularly monitored by their parents are four times more likely to use drugs. Check up on your teens to make sure they are where they say they are.

Make sure you stay involved in your teen's life Have you talked to your teen's coach, employer and friends lately?

Stay in touch with the adult supervisors of your child (camp counselors, coaches, employers) and have them inform you of any changes in your teen. Parents of teens with summer jobs still need to know how their teens are spending disposable income, what type of workplace setting they are in, and who they are working with.

Engage your teen in summer activities. Have you helped plan activities to keep your teen busy?

Teens who report they are "often bored" are 50 percent more likely to smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs than teens who aren't. Teens who are involved in constructive and adult-supervised activities are less likely to use drugs.

Other adults who influence teens, such as camp counselors, coaches, physicians and employers, can and do play a vital role in keeping teens drug-free during the summer. These adults are well-positioned to reach teens with marijuana-prevention messages, and, just by being role models or mentors, they help prevent drug use.

Have you planned a family activity with your teen in the coming weeks, such as going to the movies, taking a walk or sharing a meal?

Teens who spend time, talk and have a close relationship with their parents are much less likely to drink, take drugs or have sex. Two-thirds of youth ages 13 to 17 say fear of upsetting their parents or losing the respect of family and friends is one of the main reasons they don't smoke marijuana or use other drugs. This proves that parents are still the most powerful influence on their teen when it comes to drugs.

The HELP Committee and Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line is committed to supporting a drug-free lifestyle for everyone in the community. For more information on this or related topics, call 265-6206.