U.S. Surgeon General: Adolescents & Social Media Dangers

For the last two years, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) has focused a series of media campaigns on the adolescent mental crisis unfolding in our country and its direct impact on experimentation and substance use or misuse.

Sadly, people diagnosed with mental health conditions are about twice as likely to suffer from a substance use disorder.

U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy released a statement sounding the alarm on the dangers of adolescent social media use, and the harm it can cause to children’s mental health. Over the last few years, this topic has sparked concern among medical professionals with research finding direct links between social media and depression. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics declared a national emergency in children’s mental health.

Communication is one of the best prevention methods to combat this mental health crisis and ensure that these stressors don’t lead to experimentation with substance abuse or misuse. PDFNJ research has found that parents who talk to their children for at least 15 minutes a day have children who are 67 percent less likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.

Take time with your loved ones. Set up a family media plan that includes screen time limits, unplugging during mealtime, and engaging in real conversation. This open communication can help prevent substance use or misuse down the road.

Blog Updates

Enter your email address and we'll send you an email each time we post something new.