Four Online Resources to Better Understand Illicit Drug Abuse


Date: November 4, 2019

There are many troubled teen programs and troubled teen services that can assist with illicit drug abuse. After all, the opioid crisis, bath salts, prescription drugs, and other stimulants can be very problematic and ultimately lead to troubled teen behavior.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse Study: Monitoring the Future Survey for 2018 conducted by The University of Michigan Institute for Social Research revealed some interesting results. The report stated that illicit drugs (other than cannabis) held steady at the lowest levels in more than two decades. Even though the report indicated that few drugs showed a significant decline in use in 2017, the use of most drugs was well below peak levels in recent years.

While a promising trend, there’s still no hiding the fact that illicit drugs are still present among teens. So, what can teens and parents do about this?

A good starting point is to visit these series of online resources. They will not only provide more insight on illicit drugs, the effects, and the problems they can cause for teens, but they just may curb its use altogether for a drug-free lifestyle.

  1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration National Help Line

  • Growing up Drug Free: A Parent’s Guide to Prevention
  • (

    A joint research effort by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education, this downloadable PDF file provides information specifically for parents on why teens use drugs and how they can help their teen(s) stay drug free.

    1. Get Smart About Drugs

  • NIDA For Teens – Advancing Addiction Science
  • Troubled Teen Programs

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