Why Teens Need You
Risk Behavior And Perceptions of Anchorage Youth*
• 31 percent of high school boys report they have carried a weapon, such as a gun or knife.
• 41 percent of high school students report having at least one drink of alcohol in the past 30 days.
• 24 percent of Anchorage’s youth report they had their first drink before the age of 13.
• 22 percent of high school girls report seriously thinking about committing suicide.
• Nearly 15 percent of Anchorage high school students smoke cigarettes.
• Nearly 45 percent of Anchorage’s high school youth have tried marijuana, 7 percent have used cocaine, 11 percent have used inhalants, 3 percent have tried heroin and 7 percent have used methamphetamines.
• Nearly three of four adults in Anchorage agree that youth crime is a big, growing problem in Anchorage.
• One in four Anchorage adults believes that teenagers are “troublemakers” and 27 percent agree that teens cause them a lot of concern for their safety.
*Source: Anchorage School District Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2005
Teens are Not “Little Adults”
Teenagers may look fully grown, but their brains are still developing. Unlike adults, teens have limited access to a region of the brain called the “pre-frontal cortex.” This part of the brain is responsible for “adult behavior” like planning ahead, foreseeing consequences, decision making and suppressing impulsive behavior. It’s even been connected to longer attention span.
As a result, substance abuse treatment developed for adults isn’t effective for teens. Adults are motivated by long-term consequences, such as the threat of losing a job or family if they don’t come clean. Most teens, who might not be employed, don’t think that far ahead. They believe they are in control of their addictions and can stop using any time they want. (Adults believe they are in control, too, but they’ve usually been using long enough to have plenty of evidence to the contrary). Finally, teens are more likely to care about what peers think of their drug use than what adults think of it.
We’re Still Learning What Works for Teens
Solid scientific research on what works in teen treatment has only begun in the last decade. Thanks in part to Reclaiming Futures, several treatment models that combine treatment, more treatment and more than treatment are now being used with Anchorage youth, 12-17 who are involved in the juvenile justice system and who have a drug or alcohol problem. This treatment can include drug, alcohol and mental health counseling as well as matching youth with a natural helper who can provide assistance with finishing school, getting a job or just being there when they need support.
Treatment Makes Economic Sense
National figures show that treatment can cost as little as $3,000, while incarceration can cost up to $40,000 per year. Research has shown that investing in treatment for youth reduces crime, saves money and creates safer communities. Teen drug and alcohol use aren’t just a problem for the offending youth and their family, it’s a problem for all of us.
You Can Make A Difference
Many people think that teens don’t want adults around. In fact, many teens crave adult attention and this is particularly true of youth in the justice system. Their number one complaint is boredom. Hanging out with responsible, caring adults can motivate youth to succeed in treatment and to live crime-free and drug-free. People like you CAN make a difference in whether or not a youth succeeds.
