Teen Drug Use in Florida

The Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey

One tool that Florida uses to assess the state of teen drug use is the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey or FYSAS for short. This annual study is a cooperative project between the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Education, and the Department of Health. Every year in the spring, the state administers a survey called “Communities That Care” to middle and high school students. The questions on the FYSAS evaluate each respondent’s risk and protective factors for substance abuse. The tool also assesses the prevalence of substance abuse in the population.

For the survey published in 2022, the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey reached more than 47,000 middle and high school students from all 67 counties. The study included 384 public middle schools and 352 public high schools. Response rates were excellent, with only 61 schools statewide declining participation. The overall picture is good news, with declining substance abuse rates over the long term.

Middle School Results

When middle school students responded to questions about substance abuse in the last 30 days, 6.7% reported using alcohol. Vaping nicotine followed a close second at 5.5%. Three percent reported binge drinking, and 3% also reported smoking marijuana.

For 2022, the trajectory of the use of alcohol by middle school students continued downward. In 2004, 20.3% of respondents confirmed using alcohol in the last 30 days. In 2022, that number was 6.7%. Binge drinking showed similar reductions, down to 3.0% from 8.6% in 2002. Marijuana use by middle school respondents in the past 30 days, at 3%, shows a modest reduction, down from 5.9% in 2002.

High School Results

Drug usage in the last 30 days was much higher among high school students than among middle schoolers.

• Alcohol was the most commonly reported substance, with 15.5% of respondents in this age group admitting to drinking within this time frame.
• Vaping nicotine and smoking marijuana were also prevalent at 12.7% and 12.2%, respectively.
• Vaping marijuana (9.7%) and binge drinking (7.5%) rounded out the top five.

Like middle school students’ usage, high school respondents’ last 30 days of consumption of alcohol continued to go down. The 2022 rate of 15.5% is down from a high of 42% in 2004. Binge drinking was down as well, coming in at 7.5% after reaching a high of 23% in 2006. Eleven percent of high school respondents admit to drinking to the point of blacking out at least once in their lifetimes. That figure reached 18.9% in 2014.

Marijuana use in the last 30 days by high schoolers is down to 12.2% from a high of 18.6% in 2014.

Notable Trends

Data shows the rate of alcohol and cigarette use in the last 30 days continued to drop, a trend that began in 2008. While the decline is good news, the data survey results indicate that certain dangerous behaviors, such as binge drinking and drinking until blackout, are still happening too often. Just over 9% of the high school respondents reporting binge drinking, and 13.8% confessed to drinking to the point of blacking out at least once in the past 30 days.

The 2022 FYSAS also found a decline in the use of illegal drugs except for marijuana. The last 30-day usage is down to 5.5% from the 9.4% figure reported in 2008. Marijuana does not show the same long-term downward trend. Over the years, teen marijuana use ebbs and flows. The 2022 data shows a modest decline from 12.4% in 2014 to 10.7%.

The Florida Youth Tobacco Survey

While the FYSAS is an annual study, the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey takes place every other year. In the even years, the FYTS takes place alongside the FYSAS. The report gives results for every county and every Department of Children and Families district.

For 2020, the FYTS and the FYSAS both prominently featured the prominence of vaping as a primary form of substance abuse among Florida teenagers. Overall the students who responded to the 2020 survey were six times more likely to have vaped nicotine than to have smoked cigarettes in the last 30 days. Vaping marijuana was also significantly more common than cigarette use. In better news, vaping appears to be on the decline. Vaping of nicotine and marijuana both dropped approximately one percentage point from 2019.

The Relationship Between Teen Drug Use and Trauma

The Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey collected information on the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences, ACEs for short, among the middle and high school respondents. ACEs are traumatic occurrences in childhood that may affect other life domains into adulthood. Adverse childhood experiences may increase the likelihood of high-risk behaviors such as adolescent substance abuse.

In the 2022 FYSAS, respondents reporting four or more ACEs used drugs or alcohol two to three times as often as their counterparts reporting three or fewer adverse childhood experiences. The pattern is abundantly clear with alcohol and marijuana use.

The Relationship Between Teen Drug Use and Mental Health

Mental health disorders have a positive correlation with drug use in teenagers. Depression, suicidal ideation, and poor emotional coping skills may lead adolescents to substance abuse to escape negative feelings.

Depression

Depression is a mental health condition characterized by sadness and declining interest in hobbies, work, school, and other activities. Teenagers suffering from depression may be more likely to use drugs and alcohol to alleviate the unpleasant feelings associated with the disorder. The FYSAS found a positive correlation between drug use and symptoms of depression. The higher the number of reported symptoms, the higher the prevalence of drug use in the last 30 days.

Suicide Attempts

The FYSAS also found a positive correlation between suicide attempts and drug use among the 2022 respondents. When compared to their counterparts with no history of suicide attempts, students who reported one or more suicide attempts were:

• More than twice as likely to have used alcohol in the last 30 days.
• Almost three times as likely to have used marijuana in the previous 30 days.
• Nearly five times as likely to have used another illicit drug besides marijuana in the last 30 days.

Poor Coping Mechanisms

Respondents to the FYSAS reported various stressors, including parental unemployment, pandemic stress, bullying, abuse, and separation/divorce of caregivers. Teenagers may be unable to identify healthy ways to express their feelings and deal with these stressors. Many turn to drug use to self-medicate through these emotions.

Recognizing the Signs

All the data and statistics from the Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey are helpful and informative. However, parents and caregivers should be familiar with the signs that may indicate drug use in their teenagers. Here are four common symptoms that your teen may be involved with drugs or alcohol.

Changing Relationships

If your teen suddenly changes the group of friends he hangs out with, you may want to ask some questions, especially if you don’t know the new friends or their families. While it’s not always a sign of trouble, abrupt changes in social relationships accompanied by other behavioral issues may indicate substance abuse.

You may notice your teen’s relationships changing in other ways. Teenagers using drugs may stop associating with family and friends and withdraw from the people they love. Even socially and outgoing adolescents may start to spend more time alone and refuse to communicate with close friends and family.

Losing Interest in Activities

Teenagers with a drug problem may lose interest in activities they once loved, such as sports, hobbies, and school activities. Drugs and alcohol can become all-consuming, leading the teen to abandon all other pursuits.

Changing Behaviors and Mood Swings

While moodiness and personality changes are commonplace in adolescence, these changes may be more pronounced in teens involved with drugs. Your teenager may seem tired, have violent outbursts, get depressed, or be easily irritated. These behaviors may lead to a drop in grades, behavioral issues in school, or truancy.

Changing Physical Condition

Using drugs and alcohol takes a toll on the body, especially if you are still growing. Bloodshot eyes, runny nose, and large or pinpoint pupils may be early signs of a problem. Teens involved with drugs may stop bathing, brushing their teeth, and eating. You may notice sudden weight loss or gain or see sores on the skin from picking or scratching. Some teens involved in drugs may start cutting or burning themselves as well.

Finding Help

If a teen you love shows signs of drug and alcohol abuse, your first responsibility is to ensure she gets the help she needs to keep her safe and healthy. However, many people feel overwhelmed by the treatment options available. They may wonder what to look for in a treatment facility that will work for their teen. The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s Principles of Adolescent Substance Use Disorder Treatment offers some guidance.

Intervene as Early as Possible

If you suspect your teenager is using drugs or alcohol, don’t wait to see if the problem resolves itself. Drugs damage every facet of life, from physical and emotional health to long-term success in relationships and employment. The earlier you find help for your teen, the better your chances of heading off lasting impairment.

Many parents learn that their child is experimenting with drugs but don’t intervene immediately. They may think that experimentation is not as dangerous as youth experimentation. However, teen overdose deaths continue to rise year after year, and many young people die after their first use of an illegal drug. Drugs such as Oxycodone may be laced with deadly substances such as fentanyl, and the user won’t know it until it’s too late. Seek help immediately if you suspect your teen is using drugs.

Talk to Your Child’s Doctor

Families sometimes forget that a teen’s pediatrician, family doctor, or another general healthcare provider can be an excellent resource for help with drug and alcohol issues. These professionals have assessment tools and interventions available to them. They also have a working knowledge of the treatment providers in your area and can make referrals.

Look for a Tailored Treatment Program

The most effective treatment programs tailor the interventions to the client’s specific needs. For the best odds of success, Look for a treatment team that considers every facet of your teen’s life, including home, school, psychological needs, social interactions, and overall health.

Be aware that such a personalized treatment plan includes asking personal questions about physical health, social and medical history, and relationships. The best treatment plan in the world is only as good as the information that goes into it. Encourage your teen and everyone involved in the program to be honest, no matter how uncomfortable the questions are.

Stay Involved

Substance abuse intervention and treatment programs are most successful when the client’s family is actively involved. Research over many years has shown that strengthening family relationships, improving communications, and enlisting support from the community give clients the best odds of success. Beyond the nuclear and extended family, consider including other significant people in your teen’s life. That list may include trusted teachers or school counselors, positive peer influences, pastors or youth ministers, and mentors.

Let Clean Recovery Center Help

With four locations ready to serve you and two more to open soon, Clean Recovery Center is prepared to help your teen and your family. We offer a full range of treatment options to help your teenager recover from drug and alcohol abuse. Our programs address your teen’s complete picture of mental, physical, and emotional health. The team includes mental health therapists, specialized medical professionals, and others with extensive training focused on teen addictions. If your child is involved in drugs and alcohol, contact us at Clean Recovery Center today to start the healing journey.

Sources:

• https://drugabusestatistics.org/teen-drug-use/#florida
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• https://www.myflfamilies.com/service-programs/samh/prevention/fysas/2022/
• https://www.webmd.com/connect-to-care/addiction-treatment-recovery/signs-of-drug-use-in-teens
• https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/teen-depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20350985
• https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2022/04/13/teen-overdose-deaths-rising/7302681001/
• https://nida.nih.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide/director

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