Youth Substance Misuse and Binge Drinking Behaviors: Social Media Effects

Transcription

1 Youth Substance Misuse and Binge Drinking Behaviors: Social Media Effects STACY P. WATERMAN, MA, NCC, LPC-I, LCDC GERALD A. JUHNKE, ED.D., LPC, NCC, MAC, ACS

2 Definitions Substance Misuse Ingesting drugs or alcohol in order to attain a feeling of euphoria; not taking medication per its intended purpose (Food and Drug Administration, 2015) Binge Drinking is defined by SAMHSA as the consumption of 5 or more drinks at a time Social Media is a collection of social applications available on the Internet that allows users to generate information. This information is then shared on Social Networking Sites (Ngai, et al., 2015). Social Networking Sites (SNSs), like Facebook, allow users to create and maintain contact with family and friends through online virtual communities (Correa, Hinsley, & de Zuniga, 2010).

3 Statistics 75% of teens who see pictures of peers partying on social media believe those images make drinking and drugging look appealing Teens who are exposed to drinking and drugging via SNSs are more likely to have friends that drink alcohol and and use drugs Teens who see pictures on Facebook or another social networking site of kids getting drunk, passed out, or using drugs are: Four times likelier to have used marijuana More than three times likelier to have used alcohol (National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, 2012, p. iii).

4 Statistics Nearly half of teens indicate they are under high stress The most common source of stress for teens is academic pressure High stress teens are: Seven times more likely to smoke marijuana Three times more likely to drink alcohol Drug Infected Schools Over 60% of students claim they attend schools where drugs are stored, sold, or used (CASA) Almost half of high school students know a drug dealing student 52% of high school students know a classmate or friend that abuses illicit substances 33% of high school students know another adolescent who abuses over-the- counter medication

5 Social Media: Inform, Brag, Denigrate High School Students Use Social Media to: Inform other high schoolers where and when drinking and drugging parties will be Invite specific high profile and perceived informal leaders who are perceived as party epicenter players Publicize who was drinking

6 Social Media: Inform, Brag, Denigrate High School Students Use Social Media to: BRAG Who drank the most Who had sex with whom (high profile informal leaders or epicenter players with high/same/lower profile students). Social media pictures and videos of cool kids doing drugs glorifies the scene / party, people, and drinking and drugging behaviors Hi epicenter kids + Hi epicenter kids = Increased visibility, notoriety, prestige for both kids Hi epicenter kids + Lo epicenter kids = Increased visibility, notoriety, prestige for Lo Epi Kid Decreased visibility, notoriety, prestige for Hi Epi kid Lo epicenter kids + lo epicenter kids = May increase both kids or maintain both kids Epicenter Status

7 Social Media Inform, Brag, Denigrate High School Students Use Social Media to: Denigrate other kids Kids who where intoxicated/under the influence who got sick Kids who were sexually used Kids who were arrested

8 Assessment and Intervention Strategies CAGE Have you ever attempted to CUT back on your drinking? Have people ever ANNOYED you because they were critical of your drinking? Have you ever felt GUILTY about your drinking? Have you ever used alcohol as an EYE- OPENER for your day. E-Chug or other self-administered substance use assessments

9 Promoting Health and Substance Free Behaviors Creating and Posting a Campus Calendar of NonSubstance Abusing Parties, Clubs Events, and Social Activities: Spirit/French/Biking/Zumba Clubs Academic Events Athletic Events Social activities Having faculty, school resource officers, parental chaperons attending parties, club events, and social activities.

10 Responding to Drinking and Drugging Media Posts Monitor Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and other social media for questionable events Respond to questionable events or activities and questionable behaviors that have been posted by Forwarding to School Assistant Principal/Resource Officer/Campus Police Ensuring students safety