Experiencing trauma in childhood is known to increase the risk of substance use such as drugs, alcohol and vaping | Researchers say this means efforts to prevent vaping in teens should include the targeting of young people with traumatic backgrounds.

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#ChildhoodTrauma #SubstanceUse #PreventVaping #TeenHealth #MentalHealthAwareness

Teenagers with lower sustained attention ability may be at higher risk of cigarette and cannabis use in early adulthood. Researchers observed that adolescents with reduced capacity to maintain focus on tasks had an increased likelihood of smoking and using cannabis by their early 20s.

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#TeenMentalHealth #SubstanceUse #AttentionSpan #AdolescentResearch #PublicHealth

Alcohol use was the most prevalent predictor of increasing cannabis vaping among youth and young adults, regardless of demographic factors, whereas depression predicted cannabis vaping initiation among Hispanic and non-Hispanic Black groups

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#AlcoholUse #CannabisVaping #YouthMentalHealth #SubstanceUse #PublicHealth

A study on 10,000 adolescents found brain structure differences are associated with early use of substances. Many differences appeared to exist prior to any substance use, pointing to the role brain structure may play in substance use risk

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#SubstanceUse #AdolescentHealth #BrainResearch #MentalHealthAwareness #PublicHealth

Recreational ketamine use among U.S. adults has surged since 2015, with an 81.8% increase in annual use from 2015 to 2019 and a 40% rise from 2021 to 2022. And it’s twice as prevalent among those with college degrees compared to those with less education

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#KetamineTrends #SubstanceUse #MentalHealthAwareness #CollegeCulture #RecreationalDrugs

People who have been to an emergency department or hospitalised after using hallucinogens such as ketamine, psilocybin, LSD, and MDMA are at a 2.6-fold higher risk of dying of any cause over the next five years. Note that this type of study can't show hallucinogens caused this increased risk.

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#Hallucinogens #MentalHealthAwareness #EmergencyCare #ResearchMatters #SubstanceUse

A study from researchers at CU Anschutz reveals that nearly one in five U.S. adults have used multiple drugs in the past year, showing that substance use is fairly common and more complex than just using one drug at a time. The results were published in the American Journal of Public Health.

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#SubstanceUse #PublicHealth #CUAnschutz #DrugResearch #AddictionAwareness

Use of psilocybin, the hallucinogenic chemical found in what is known as “magic mushrooms” 🍄, has increased significantly nationwide 📈 since 2019, according to a new study led by researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and Rocky Mountain Poison and Drug Safety.

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#Psilocybin #MagicMushrooms #MentalHealth #PsychedelicResearch #SubstanceUse

Cannabis study: legalization reduces problematic consumption, particularly among people who use other drugs in addition to cannabis 🌿📉🧪

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#CannabisLegalization #HarmReduction #SubstanceUse #PublicHealth #AddictionResearch

Scientists map how alcohol changes bodily sensations. People who felt less bodily sensation tended to report greater stimulation 🚀 and less sedation 💤 from alcohol — patterns associated with elevated risk for alcohol use disorder. 🍷⚠️

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#AlcoholResearch #BodilySensations #AlcoholUseDisorder #HealthScience #SubstanceUse

Almost 1 in 10 workers in their 30s uses alcohol 🍺, marijuana 🍃 or other drugs 💊 while on the job in the United States, a new study finds. The risk for substance use among young employees was highest in the food preparation/service industry 🍽️ and in safety-sensitive occupations including construction 🏗️.

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#SubstanceUse #WorkplaceHealth #YoungWorkers #AlcoholAwareness #DrugFreeWorkplace

A study has found that adolescents become highly motivated to seek rewards after just a few hours of social isolation, making some people more prone to seek out rewards such as alcohol 🍺 or recreational drugs 💊.

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#AdolescentBehavior #SocialIsolation #RewardSeeking #MentalHealthAwareness #SubstanceUse

The National Institute on Drug Abuse found that 22% of Americans aged 19–30 use alcohol 🍺, cannabis 🌿, or both to help them sleep 😴. Cannabis was far more common than alcohol, use varied by gender and race, and researchers cautioned that regular reliance may worsen sleep and increase addiction risk.

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#SleepHealth #SubstanceUse #CannabisAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #AddictionPrevention

Psychedelics/ psilocybin/ hallucinogen use is rising in the United States; however, emergency and hospital admissions involving hallucinogens remain relatively rare. They account for a small fraction of substance-related hospital admissions, outweighed by alcohol🍺- and opioid💊-related encounters.

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#Psychedelics #Psilocybin #Hallucinogens #MentalHealth #SubstanceUse

* 📊 A study found that 27.6% of adolescents aged 14-17 (approx. 3.2 million) have consumed alcohol, and parental attitudes are crucial in preventing substance use.

* 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The "authoritative" parenting style, combining acceptance and monitoring, significantly reduces the risk of young people repeating consumption patterns, even if caregivers use substances like cigarettes, vapes, or marijuana.

* 📈 The research, based on data from 4,280 adolescents and guardians collected between 2023-2024, highlights that parental non-use of substances is the strongest predictor of adolescent abstinence.

#Parenting #AdolescentHealth #SubstanceUse

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🔬 New research suggests individuals with more regular substance use struggle to consistently act on negative consequences, rather than simply ignoring them.

💡 A Yale University study involving 137 adults (75% with substance use history) revealed that participants with more "years of regular use" were less likely to repeat a beneficial decision (avoiding a loss), showing inconsistency in applying learned feedback.

🧠 Computational models indicated these individuals were less consistent in using "expected value" to guide choices, suggesting their brains have difficulty applying learned consequences to future decisions.

#SubstanceUse #Research #MentalHealth

UK study of 30,920 adolescents aged 12–15 finds peer pressure, bullying and emotional distress increase substance use, while strong family ties and school belonging are protective. Close friendships are not always protective and may increase exposure to substance use

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#AdolescentHealth #MentalHealth #SubstanceUse

* 📚 **Peer pressure, bullying, and emotional struggles drive teen substance use**, with alcohol being the most common. Conversely, strong parent/teacher relationships and school belonging offer protection.

* 📈 **Substance use rises with age.** While close friendships can sometimes increase exposure, specific groups like girls, LGBTQ+ youth, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds report higher usage.

* 🏫 **School environment is more influential than neighborhood** in shaping teen substance use, with factors like peer dynamics and support systems playing a key role.

#TeenHealth #SubstanceUse #Education

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🚬 Teens in California see cannabis as less harmful than alcohol, vapes, and cigarettes, according to a study of over 175,000 students from 2019-2020 and 2024 surveys.

📊 Perceptions of cannabis risk decreased as students got older, with 12th graders showing the weakest concern compared to younger teens.

🤝 Peer influence significantly impacts teen views, with those having more friends who use a substance rating it as less harmful, especially for cannabis.

🧠 Public health experts are concerned, as lower perceived risk can lead to higher usage, potentially affecting teen brain development, cognition, and mental health.

#TeenHealth #SubstanceUse #PublicHealth

Among U.S. adults, alcohol use disorder declined from 28.8 million cases in 2021 to 27.1 million in 2024, while cannabis use disorder increased from 15.3 million to 19.4 million, with increases particularly notable among adults aged 35 and older.

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#SubstanceUse #AlcoholVsCannabis #PublicHealthNow