COMMENTARY: 'Shatter myths' that lead to drug abuse, alcoholism by RGV teens

This week is National Drug and Alcohol Facts Week, a national health observance week sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), when students are linked with scientists and experts to counteract myths that they may obtain from social media, music, the Internet, TV, movies, and from friends.

During this time, adolescents and adults are challenged to "Shatter the Myths" that exist related to the risks and consequences associated with alcohol and other drugs use.

For example, some parents may believe that providing alcohol to teens at home will decrease the risk for continued drinking as the teens get older. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that "adolescents who start drinking before age 15 are six times more likely to develop alcohol dependence or abuse later in life than those who begin drinking at or after age 21."

In the Rio Grande Valley, 4,602 individuals received treatment for substance use in 2015; 16 percent were ages 12-17. Additionally, parents need to be aware of the fact that they face stiff penalties under the law for providing alcohol to minors, even if it is at home. Several cities have passed social host ordinances around the country and in Texas, including El Paso and San Antonio. These ordinances aim to curb underage drinking by targeting parents who provide a place for minors to consume alcohol.

Another common myth revolves around prescription drugs. Some believe that prescription drugs are not dangerous because doctors prescribe them. However, prescription drugs are just as dangerous as illicit drugs and experimentations can be extremely dangerous. Most addictions develop during the adolescent years, and studies have shown that youth who take prescription drugs for non-medical reasons are at least five times more likely to develop a drug abuse problem than those who don't. Prescription painkillers and heroin cause half of all deaths related to drug overdoses, and more people die in the United States from drug overdoses than from motor vehicle crashes or firearms.

There are plenty of myths surrounding marijuana consumption, as well. For instance, youth may believe that marijuana is harmless and non-addictive. The truth is that marijuana consumption can lead to cognitive impairment, mental health problems, traffic accidents, lung damage, and can have long-term consequences. Additionally, more teens enter treatment with a diagnosis of marijuana dependency than for all other illicit drugs combined. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, two out of three teens in drug treatment programs are dependent on marijuana.

The Prevention Resource Center (PRC), a program of Behavioral Health Solutions of South Texas, serves as the central data collection repository for Region 11. It also is the developer of an annual Regional Needs Assessment (RNA) on drug and alcohol-related regional facts, which is available to community members at no cost.

During this National Drug and Alcohol Fact Week, the center wants to help residents in our region shatter the myths regarding drugs. To find out more about the prevention work being conducted in your community download the latest Regional Needs Assessment at our website, www.prc11.org/data . If you are interested in becoming a part of this project and would like to play a role in the 2017 Regional Needs Assessment process, please call 787-7111 ext. 295.