Prevention Coalition for Success is an informational site designed to educate parents, teachers, and concerned community members about teen drug use and ways to prevent it.
The data shows that prevention efforts are working. Here’s what the research says about teen substance use trends.
In 2015, 2.3% of middle school students reported that they smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days—a decrease from 4.3% in 2011. In 2015, 9.3% of high school students reported that they smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days—a decrease from 15.8% in 2011.
Past year heroin use in 2015 reached an all-time low of 0.3% for 8th graders and 0.5% for 10th and 12th graders. In 2015, 3.6% of seniors reported past year use of MDMA (Ecstasy or Molly) — down from 5% in 2014.
In 2013, 35% of high school students reported drinking some amount of alcohol in the past 30 days — down from 44.4% in 2007. By 2016, 17.2% of high school seniors reported binge drinking (five or more drinks in a row within two weeks) — a decrease from 19.4% in 2015.
In 2015, 5.2% of high school seniors reported using synthetic marijuana — a significant decrease from 11.4% in 2011.
In 2016, 4.4% of high school seniors reported non-medical use of prescription opioids — a dramatic decrease from a peak of 10.5% in 2003.
Prevention works on multiple levels simultaneously from individual behavior to community-wide policy change.
Strong social bonds and community engagement are among the most powerful protective factors against substance misuse. When people feel connected, they’re less vulnerable to addictive behaviors.
The earlier a young person receives accurate information about drugs and healthy coping skills, the less likely they are to develop substance abuse problems in adulthood. Prevention starts young.
Every dollar invested in evidence-based prevention programs saves communities an average of $7 in avoided criminal justice, healthcare, and social service costs. Prevention is one of the most cost-effective public health strategies available.
Community coalitions that work to strengthen policies around underage drinking and drug access create lasting environmental change. Policy-level interventions produce population-wide benefits that individual education alone cannot achieve.
Family involvement, school engagement, positive peer relationships, and clear expectations from caring adults are documented protective factors. Prevention programs strengthen all of these simultaneously.
Coordinated community prevention efforts systematically target known risk factors, like lack of supervision, peer pressure, and easy access to substances reducing their impact on vulnerable populations.
Join PC4S and help us continue three decades of evidence-based prevention work in Rutherford County.