Keeping Teens Safe: How the intact family buffers against teen substance abuse

From the Heritage Foundation:

1.  Cigarette use. Teens in intact families are less likely to initiate cigarette smoking compared to peers in non-intact families. full details

2.  Cigarette use. Teens in two-parent families reported, on average, lower levels of cigarette smoking than peers in single-parent families. full details

3. Alcohol abuse.  Teens in two-parent families reported, on average, lower levels of drinking than those in single-parent families. full details

4.  Alcohol abuse. Teens in intact families are less likely to abuse alcohol than peers in non-intact families. full details

5. Alcohol and marijuana use.  Teens who lived in intact families during early adolescence are less likely to initiate alcohol and marijuana use than peers who lived in non-intact families.  full details   

6.  Illicit drug use.  Teens in intact families are less likely to use illicit drugs other than marijuana compared to peers in non-intact families. full details   

7.  Illicit drug use (European teens).  European teens in intact families are less likely to use illicit drugs than peers in non-intact families. full details

8.  Cocaine use.  Individuals from intact families are less likely to use cocaine compared to peers from non-intact families. full details   

9.  Drug abuse.  Teens in intact families are less likely to abuse drugs compared to peers in non-intact families. full details 

10.  Behavioral problems.  Teens in intact families are less likely to exhibit behavioral problems such as binge drinking than peers in blended or divorced single-parent families. full details

Comments

[Understand Your Teen]

I think it's really important for parents to have a relationship with their teen and try to help them avoid drugs. My childhood friend died from a drug incident and burying my friend really did change my entire outlook on life.

I started a website dedicated to helping parents better understand their teens so that they can truly be more effective parents. It's important for parents to understand what goes on in the teenage world, to make sure their teen is comfortable talking to them about anything, and to really be vigilant about trying to HELP their teens navigate the dangerous world of teen years.

My blog posting below relates to this article and I think it'd really be a helpful resource for parents to better help their teens avoid drug tragedies like that which my childhood friend died from.

I think it's really important for parents to have a relationship with their teen and try to help them avoid drugs. My childhood friend died from a drug incident and burying my friend really did change my entire outlook on life.

I started a website dedicated to helping parents better understand their teens so that they can truly be more effective parents. It's important for parents to understand what goes on in the teenage world, to make sure their teen is comfortable talking to them about anything, and to really be vigilant about trying to HELP their teens navigate the dangerous world of teen years.

My blog posting below relates to this article and I think it'd really be a helpful resource for parents to better help their teens avoid drug tragedies like that which my childhood friend died from.

www.understandmyteen.com/blog/