Alcohol is well known to be addictive and alcoholism is one of the most common substance abuse disorders. While there are few studies to show how it is linked to illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin, it’s important to note that alcohol is still considered a gateway drug. This means that when a person first starts drinking there is a possibility that they will move on to other dangerous substances.
While many people consider marijuana as being the most common gateway drug to other illicit drugs – the vast majority of drug users started with alcohol. According to a University of Florida study, alcohol was most often the first substance high school seniors tried before using illicit drugs. It also found that students who consume alcohol are up to 16 times more likely to use licit and illicit substances. What does this mean for parents? It’s important to remember that alcohol consumption is just as serious as other drug use. There should be a zero-tolerance policy at home, where the expectations are clear and understood. This is especially important to remember during the celebratory time of year with Prom and Graduation approaching (Vitt, 2012).
In Arizona, alcohol remains the most commonly used substance among youth. In 2014, 46.2 percent of students said they had tried alcohol at least once in their lifetime and 24.1 percent said they consumed alcohol in the past 30 days (2014 Arizona Youth Survey).
Make sure to communicate with your teen about the tough issues like drinking and drug use. While you can’t always shield them from being faced with situations where alcohol or drugs are involved, you can prepare them to make smart decisions in those situations.
Source:
Vitt, A. (2012, July 10). UF study shows long-term drug abuse starts with alcohol. University of Florida News. Retrieved March 3, 2016, from http://news.ufl.edu/archive/2012/07/uf-study-shows-long-term-drug-abuse…
