Social Media’s Role in Youth Substance Use

It is no secret that youth love using social media. According to Clearfork Academy, 95% of youth are active on social media, with the top platforms being Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Twitter (X). These platforms provide youth with entertainment and a chance to stay connected with friends. Unfortunately, they can also influence youth to engage in risky behaviors such as experimenting with drugs or drinking underage. Clearfork Academy shared that 13% of youth admitted to being influenced by social media to succumb to peer pressure. The pressure to engage in those behaviors comes from friends, influencers, and marketing techniques used by the alcohol, tobacco, and electronic cigarette industries. Social media influences youth to try substances, and it can also be used as a marketplace for those substances.

Social media platforms provide drug dealers with easy access to sell their products. Drugs like fentanyl can be disguised as candy or common medication, and transactions are perceived as anonymous which is appealing to teens trying to hide what they are doing. Social media is not the only place that gives teens easy access to drugs. Marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs are readily available via the dark web. Deals on the dark web are easier to hide due to specialized software and cryptocurrency being prominent on those sites. The internet can be a dangerous place for anyone, but particularly for impressionable youth. There is hope for the future though with current approaches to tackling these issues

Congress is working on legislation to regulate social media and tech companies. The bills they are looking at put restrictions on data collection from minors, put limitations on targeted advertising, and require transparency reports that show the impact social media has on youth. Tech leaders and CEOs set an example for parents by restricting or banning social media use by their own children. Parents can help by monitoring social media activity, encouraging open communication, and being a role model by using the internet and social media responsibly.

Please click on the links below to learn more about the correlation between social media and youth substance use, and to learn about other strategies alcohol, tobacco, and vaping companies use to target youth

Resources

American Lung Association: 9 of the Strategies Big Tobacco Used to Target Kids with E-Cigarettes
Clearfork Academy: How Does Social Media Facilitate the Consumption of Drugs in Teens?
Clearfork Academy: How Teens Keep Online Activities Hidden from Parents
Movendi International: Marketing Towards Kids – Exposing How Big Alcohol Works to Target Kids with Their Marketing
Prevention Action Alliance: How Alcohol Companies Target Young People

Marijuana Rescheduling: What Does it Mean?

The U.S. Attorney General initiated the rulemaking process to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III in May. This would lead to many changes for cannabis businesses, marijuana research, and law enforcement agencies. There has been some confusion regarding what rescheduling marijuana means. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions. Please visit the links below for more information.

What is the difference between Schedule I and Schedule III? The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) classifies Schedule I drugs as being drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Schedule III drugs have moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence, and are considered to have some medical use. An example of a Schedule III drug is Tylenol with codeine.

Would marijuana still be illegal? Marijuana would still be illegal at the federal level because it would still be considered a controlled substance.

How does rescheduling effect the cannabis industry? Internal Revenue Code Section 280E prohibits businesses who sell Schedule I substances from deducting business expenses which results in a higher tax rate. The Washington Post shared that industry groups said this could help some businesses start turning a profit because the will no longer be paying a tax rate of 70% or more.

When will this change go into effect? This change has not been made. The Attorney General started the formal rulemaking process with their request, but more work has to be done. The DEA has to gather information and views submitted by the public, and then make a determination about the appropriate schedule after that. This process will potentially take months to complete, and marijuana will remain a Schedule I substance during that time.

Resources

Associated Press: US poised to ease restrictions on marijuana in historic shift, but it’ll remain controlled substance
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): Cannabis Health Effects
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA): Drug Scheduling 
The Washington Post: What marijuana reclassification means and the effects of rescheduling
U.S. Department of Justice – Office of Public Affairs: Justice Department Submits Proposed Regulation to Reschedule Marijuana

July 2024 Awareness

Resources

TIPS is a skills-based training program designed to prevent intoxication, underage drinking, and driving under the influence of alcohol. Attendees will learn how to detect fake identification, the ins and outs of Ohio’s sales and service laws, how to refuse a sale or service, recognizing impairment, how to deal with underage customers, and more.

The training will be held Tuesday, Aug. 6th from 1 PM to 4 PM at University of Akron-Wayne College, 1901 Smucker Rd., Orrville, OH 44667. Register for the training by emailing Robert Bean at beanr@one-eighty.org or by calling 330-804-3122. Walk-ins will be accommodated on a space available basis only.