We all know that the emotional damage bullying has on a child can last well into their adulthood. But now, a recent study has also cast a light on the connection between bullying and future drug use.

High school steroid use has been on the decline for many years. Still, 45 percent of high school seniors do not see a great risk in using steroids once or twice, according to the Monitoring the Future 2016 Survey. This, coupled with the availability of the drugs online, could signal danger to teens that don’t know or understand the risks.

You are going to see that once the addiction starts it is often too late. By telling somebody, you could be saving a life.

While heroin overdose deaths have fallen since 2017, they are still higher than they were 10 years ago. Why is this happening?

What is prescription drug abuse? Prescription drug abuse is when someone takes a medication prescribed for someone else, takes their own prescription in a way not intended by a doctor or dentist, or takes a medication to get high, according to DrugAbuse.gov. Prescription (RX) drugs are the most commonly abused substances by teens after marijuana, synthetic marijuana (spice), and alcohol. 

Prescription (Rx) and over- the-counter (OTC) medicines are legal products that should be used only as directed. Unfortunately, many teens are using opioid painkillers and OTC medicines to get high.

The associations between substance use, academic failure and dropout are strong and well recognized among researchers and educators who study adolescent substance use.

Do you think your teen may be using drugs? Here are six tips on how to have a discussion.