FEATURED Medical education topic: Crystal, Cake and K2: What Teens are Smoking, Snorting, Shooting and Swallowing

Illicit drug use among teens is increasing. The CDC reports that nearly one in three high school students reported substance use within the previous thirty days. 11.2% of overdose deaths in the United States are people aged 15-24 years. Marijuana is one of the most commonly used illicit substances among teens, but there are others that may be less familiar. Understanding illicit substances and the role they play in the health of our teens helps physicians recognize these toxidromes and advocate for their patients locally and nationally.

Proposed Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this activity, the learners will be able to:

• Describe the toxidromes and treatments associated with substances intentionally used by teenagers.
• Feel empowered to advocate for children and teenagers. 
• Use laboratory testing to correctly identify substances of abuse, including recognizing which medications or substances may cause urine tests to falsely identify a drug of abuse.

If your medical staff needs an update on current trends in teen substance use, consider contacting our office to book a speaker at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

References:

Miech, R. A., Johnston, L. D., Patrick, M.E., O’Malley, P. M., Bachman, J. G., & Schulenberg, J. E., (2023). Monitoring the Future national survey results on drug use, 1975–2022: Secondary school students. Monitoring the Future Monograph Series. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan. Available at https://monitoringthefuture.org/results/publications/monographs/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2022). Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: Results from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. PEP22-07-01-005, NSDUH Series H-57). 

Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2021-nsduh-annual-national-report