What's the problem?

Compared to the rest of the United States, the youth of Nevada have had significantly higher rates overall in illicit drug use, marijuana use and non-medical use of pain relievers.  Additionally, Nevada's youth is in the worst tier for their cocaine use, illicit drug dependence or abuse, illicit drug dependence, and “needing but not receiving treatment for illicit drug use.”  

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 8.3% of 8th graders reported using illicit drugs in the last year, 18.3% of 10th graders and 23.7% of 12th graders.  Not to mention that 64% of high school seniors do not view regular marijuana use as harmful, and 5.8%  said they use marijuana daily or near daily. "If current trends continue, marijuana use among high school seniors could soon become more common than cigarette smoking," says Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse in an interview with USA Today.  After marijuana, prescription and over-the-counter medications account for most of the top drugs abused by 12th graders in the past year, with the most commonly abused being Vicodin and Adderall.

“In 2009, Nevada youths accounted for 3.6% of the total primary heroin admissions in the Silver State, whereas the rate was 0.5% for youths nationwide.”
— “Addiction and Substance Abuse among Nevada Youth”, by An-Pyng Sun, Chih-Hsiang Ho, and Larry Ashley, 2012

Drug addiction is a disease and there are many risk factors that can contribute to getting that disease, including genetics, where you live, the school you attend, and who you surround yourself with. These same factors can also help protect against the disease.  Which make adolescence an extremely critical stage for substance abuse initiation, as well as for substance abuse prevention, intervention and treatment.  The time to get help is now - recovery is possible. 

THE HARD FACTS

  • 27% the number of teenagers who used illicit drugs in 2014.
  • 3.6% of Nevada's heroin admissions were adolescents, compared to 0.5% of youths nationwide in 2009. 
  • 64% of high school seniors do not view regular marijuana use as harmful.
  • High school seniors who smoke marijuana are 65% more likely to get into a car crash than those who don't smoke.
  • Students who use marijuana regularly tend to get lower grades and are more likely to drop out of high school.
  • After marijuana, prescription and over-the-counter medications account for most of the top drugs abused by 12th graders
  • The most commonly abused prescription drugs are Vicodin and Adderall. 
  • Drug overdoses kill more people than cars, guns or falling.
  • In 2009, 1 in 3 fatally injured drivers tested positive for drugs.
  • 9.9 million people aged 12 or older reported driving under the influence of illicit drugs in 2012. The highest rate was among 18- to 25-year-olds.