By Kayla DeKraker
A recent study shares encouraging news regarding concerning teen habits, but parents still need to be alert.
Fewer U.S. teens are experimenting with alcohol, cigarettes and drugs than in past decades. According to survey data, only about 20% of 15- to 16-year-olds reported trying alcohol, down from 71% of 10th-graders in 2000. Cigarette and drug use among teens similarly showed decline.
“This trend in the reduction of substance use among teenagers is unprecedented,” Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), said. “We must continue to investigate factors that have contributed to this lowered risk of substance use to tailor interventions to support the continuation of this trend.”
Although this is one major win, it doesn’t mean teens are safe. In fact, the vices have shifted from substance abuse to internet abuse and hidden rebellion.
Related: Federal Judge Blocks State’s Child Internet Safety Law
“The rebellion has moved online, and it’s much harder for adults to see,” said family therapist Saba Harouni Lurie, LMFT, ATR-BC in a discussion with Parents. “When I was younger, rebellion was visible. Now, a teen can sit in their room looking perfectly compliant while they’re engaging in all kinds of boundary-pushing behavior on their phone.”
Lurie shared some tips on what parents can do to protect their kids from rebellious behavior online.
“That includes having access to their accounts, checking in on what they’re posting and who they’re interacting with, and having ongoing conversations about what they’re seeing online, even when those conversations are uncomfortable,” she said. “It’s not about being invasive or controlling, but about staying connected to a huge part of their world that’s largely invisible to us as adults.”
She added, “I tell parents to look for opportunities to say yes to in-person activities and to actively help facilitate them when they can, even when it feels inconvenient. Drive them to meet friends. Let them hang out at your house. Create space for the unstructured social time that this generation is missing.”
If your kids are online, there are several things you can do to keep them safe and prevent concerning behavior.
The Department of Justice suggests, “Discuss internet safety and develop an online safety plan…Supervise young children’s use of the internet…Review games, apps, and social media sites…Adjust privacy settings and use parental controls…Tell children to avoid sharing personal information, photos, and videos online” and “Teach children about body safety and boundaries” are several tips that can help keep children safe online.
As the risks of the internet increase, parents can use wisdom in guiding their children and celebrate the fact that drug risks are on the decline.
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