Substance Use & School Health

Learning Objectives

• State factors that may increase risk of substance use and prescription drug misuse by youth

• Identify signs and symptoms of drug abuse/misuse

• Identify signs and symptoms of drug toxicity

• Describe legal considerations for obtaining and administering of naloxone in Minnesota

Target Audience

This information is designed for licensed school nurses, teachers, counselors, staff and others interested in learning about substance use and prescription drug misuse affecting youth.

Click here for:

Information on abuse of opioids

Information on abuse of psychostimulants

Information on abuse of vaping

Information on abuse of benzodiazepines

A Center on Addiction report (2019) found that more 15-17-year olds than 12-14-year olds reported:

• Having a few close friends who engage in substance use.

• Twice as many older teens said their close friends use substances (61% vs. 29%).

• Having at least a few close friends who drink beer (44% vs. 20%) or other alcohol (39% vs. 17%), smoke cigarettes (37% vs. 20%) or vape (39% vs. 16%), use marijuana (40% vs. 16%) or misuse prescription drugs (12% vs. 7%).

• Knowing someone who is addicted to nicotine (44% vs. 36%), alcohol (30% vs. 24%), marijuana (31% vs. 15%) or prescription pain relievers (10% vs. 4%).

• Not being worried, regardless of how often a friend used e-cigarettes (28% vs. 16%) or marijuana (17% vs. 9%).

• Being able to obtain illicit drugs like heroin (8% vs. 3%), cocaine (10% vs. 2%), and methamphetamine (9% vs. 2%) easily within a day if they wanted.