Did You Know? Drug and Alcohol Facts & Kids March 2026
DID YOU KNOW one of the most powerful ways to prevent youth substance use is to delay the age of first use? Research shows that the earlier a young person begins using substances, the greater their risk for developing a substance use disorder later in life.
DID YOU KNOW teens who start drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than those who wait until 21.
DID YOU KNOW that approximately 10% of adults who use cannabis will become dependent on it, and that percent rises to 17% (that is roughly 1 in 6) for those who start using in their teens according to studies. Daily or near-daily users have a much higher risk of developing dependance, with estimates reaching up to 50% more likely.
DID YOU KNOW that delaying first use until 21 or older protects the developing brain, reduces risk-taking behaviors, and gives kids more time to build healthy habits and decision-making skills.
March hosts the annual Drug and Alcohol Facts Week campaign each year as a time focused on the science of drug use and addiction that educates and empowers youth to make informed decisions about substance use and their health.
So what can we do as a parent, guardian, family member, or community member to keep kids safe?
- Share this information with the kids in your life
- Set boundaries and share with them why they have curfews and rules to keep those boundaries
- Explain why you want to get to know their friends and their friends’ parents
- Be willing to have an awkward conversation with parents of your kid’s friends. Let them know where you stand about underage drinking and the importance of delaying drinking
- Be willing to restrict your kid from spending time at someone else’s home where underage drinking is allowed or encouraged
- Talk to them and Listen to them. Validate their feelings and be kind.
- Practice coping skills and support them building these skills to deal with big emotions and stressful situations.
DID YOU KNOW that many people don’t understand why or how other people become addicted to drugs? They may mistakenly think that those who use drugs lack moral principles or willpower and that they could stop their drug use simply by choosing to. In reality, drug addiction is a complex disease, and quitting usually takes more than good intentions or a strong will. Drugs change the brain in ways that make quitting hard, even for those who want to.
DO YOU KNOW what drug addiction is? Addiction is a chronic disease characterized by use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences.
Good news, drug use and addiction are preventable. Results from NIDA-funded research have shown that prevention programs involving families, schools, communities, and the media are effective for preventing or reducing drug use and addiction. Although personal events and cultural factors affect drug use trends, when young people view drug use as harmful, they tend to decrease their drug taking. Therefore, education and outreach are key in helping people understand the possible risks of drug use.
TASK- the Tahoe Alliance for Safe Kids, is a local non-profit that addresses topics each month through our Did You Know Campaign. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for more tips and resources each month around the highlighted DYK Campaign or visit our website at www.tahoesafekids.org