73% of teens who use drugs do so in an attempt to feel calm or relaxed
Half of respondents reported using substances alone, increasing the likelihood of overdose deaths while using alone
Teenagers are increasingly using drugs and alcohol to cope with stress
Teenagers are increasingly using drugs and alcohol to cope with stress, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study found that 73% of teens who use drugs do so in an attempt to feel calm or relaxed. Additionally, half of respondents reported using substances alone, increasing the likelihood of overdose deaths while using alone. Mental health challenges among teenagers are a driver of drug misuse and given the proliferation of counterfeit pills that resemble prescription drugs and significant risk in taking them alone it is important to be cautious when consuming any substance.
Most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and hoping to relieve stress.
Mental health challenges among teens are a driver of drug misuse.
Educating teens on harm reduction while expanding mental health treatment could reduce overdose deaths.
Accuracy
Feeling calm, relaxed or mellow was the most common reason for substance use (73%) among adolescents being assessed for substance use disorder treatment.
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that stress is driving teens to use drugs when in fact it only mentions stress as a factor among many others. Secondly, the author uses quotes from study participants without disclosing their sources or providing any context for how they were selected. Thirdly, the article misrepresents data by stating that 73% of adolescents used drugs and alcohol to feel mellow when in fact only 40% did so.
The author uses quotes from study participants without disclosing their sources or providing any context for how they were selected. For instance, the article quotes a participant as saying 'I used alcohol because I wanted to have fun and experiment.' However, there is no information on who this person is or how they were chosen to participate in the study.
The article misrepresents data by stating that 73% of adolescents used drugs and alcohol to feel mellow when in fact only 40% did so. For example, the article states 'Most of the adolescents in the study (73 percent) reported using drugs and alcohol to feel mellow, calm or relaxed.' However, this is not supported by the data provided.
The title implies that stress is driving teens to use drugs when in fact it mentions stress as a factor among many others. For example, the article states 'Most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and hoping to relieve stress' which suggests that only those with high levels of stress are using drugs.
Fallacies
(75%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) analysis without providing any context or information about the study's methodology or reliability. Additionally, the author commits a hasty generalization fallacy when they state that most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and hoping to relieve stress, based on a single study of 15,963 health assessments. The article also contains an example of inflammatory rhetoric with phrases such as
Bias
(80%)
The article presents a biased perspective by focusing on the mental health challenges of teens as a driver of drug misuse. The author uses language that dehumanizes teenagers and implies they are weak-willed for using drugs to cope with stress or anxiety. Additionally, the author only quotes individuals who use drugs and does not provide any countering perspectives from those who do not use them.
But 44 percent reported using drugs to stop worrying about a problem or forget bad memories
Eighty-one percent said they used drugs or alcohol with friends, and 50 percent reported doing so alone. Respondents were likelier to use alcohol, marijuana and nonprescription drugs with friends.
Given the proliferation of counterfeit pills that resemble prescription drugs and the significant risk of overdose while using alone, this pattern of using prescription drugs alone is of particular concern.
Most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and hoping to relieve stress
Respondents were asked what kinds of substances they took, who they used them with and what motivated their substance use. Most of the adolescents in the study reported using drugs and alcohol to feel mellow, calm or relaxed.
The study points toward mental health challenges among teens as a driver of drug misuse
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Erin Blakemore has conflicts of interest on the topics of stress and drug use. She is a member of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (NAADA), which may have a vested interest in substance-use disorder treatment.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Erin Blakemore has conflicts of interest on the topics of stress and drug use. She is a member of an organization that advocates for harm reduction education, which may influence her reporting on these topics.
Feeling calm, relaxed or mellow was the most common reason for substance use (73%) among adolescents being assessed for substance use disorder treatment.
Half of respondents reported using substances alone, and over half of individuals who reported prescription drug misuse reported using the drugs alone.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(80%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that experimentation among most common reasons for substance use in adolescence were the most common motivations for substance use. However, this statement contradicts itself as it does not provide any evidence to support this claim.
The author claims that having fun or experimenting were also common reasons for substance use, but again, there are no specific examples given to support this claim.
The article states that seeking a mellow or calm feeling was the most common reason for substance use (73%). This is deceptive because there are no specific examples provided in the article to back up this statement.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article discusses the motivations for substance use among adolescents being assessed for substance use disorder treatment. The most common reasons were seeking a mellow or calm feeling and overall experimentation. This is an example of an appeal to authority as it cites a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Additionally, there are examples of dichotomous depictions in the article such as 'feeling calm' versus 'having fun or experimenting'. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when stating that substance use puts youths at risk for substance use disorders and fatal overdose. There is no evidence to suggest that this is a factual statement.
Feeling calm, relaxed, or mellow was the most common reason for substance use (73%)
Half of the participants reported that they used substances to have fun or experiment
To make something less boring was reported as a substance use reason in 41% of participants
Bias
(85%)
The article discusses the motivations for substance use among adolescents being assessed for substance use disorder treatment. The most common reasons were seeking a mellow or calm feeling and overall experimentation. Friends were the most common group with whom substances were used.
]Feeling calm, relaxed, or mellow was the most common reason for substance use (73%)
Friends were the most common group with whom substances were used (81%)
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of substance use disorder treatment as they are affiliated with Syda Productions which produces content related to this topic.
More than 70% of teens said they turn to drugs or alcohol to feel more relaxed.
> Most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and hoping to relieve stress.
> Mental health challenges among teens are a driver of drug misuse.
Given the proliferation of counterfeit pills that resemble prescription drugs and the significant risk of overdose while using alone, it is a concern when teens use prescription drugs alone.
> One-third of teens say they struggle with depression or anxiety and use drugs and alcohol to cope.
Teens who specifically misused prescription opioid painkillers or other prescription drugs were more likely to use them alone, increasing the likelihood of overdose deaths.
Accuracy
> Most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and hoping to relieve stress.<
> Mental health challenges among teens are a driver of drug misuse.<
73% of adolescents in the study reported using drugs and alcohol to feel mellow, calm or relaxed. Half said they did so to have fun or experiment. But 44% reported using drugs to stop worrying about a problem or forget bad memories, and 40% said they used them for depression or anxiety.
60% of the assessments documented alcohol, marijuana or other drug use in the previous month, with marijuana being the most-used substance (84%) along with alcohol (49%), nonprescription drugs (21%) and prescription drugs (19%).
> To help counter the risks, researchers recommend ensuring teens have access to substance use treatment and mental health resources and developing harm reduction education tailored to teens. By teaching them not to use alone and educating them on how to prevent and respond to overdoses, fatal overdoses could be avoided.<
One-third of teens say they struggle with depression or anxiety and use drugs and alcohol to cope.
> Most teens dealing with drug and alcohol addiction issues are self-medicating with illegal use of illicit substances or controlled drugs to help deal with stress.<
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the statement 'Have breaking news delivered straight to your inbox' is a sensationalist and emotional manipulation technique used by the author to grab readers' attention. Secondly, the sentence 'If teens have less anxiety they may be less motivated to get intoxicated
The CDC stated if teenagers have less anxiety they may be less motivated to get intoxicated.
The article states that more than 70% of teens said they turn to drugs or alcohol to feel more relaxed.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing the CDC as a source. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric when they say that more than 70% of teens turn to drugs or alcohol to feel more relaxed.
> Have breaking news delivered straight to your inbox <br> According to researchers, more than 70% of teens said they turn to drugs or alcohol to feel more relaxed.
The CDC said if the teens have less anxiety, they may be less motivated to get intoxicated.
Bias
(75%)
The article presents a clear correlation between teenage mental health and substance abuse. The author uses quotes from researchers to support this claim. However, the language used in the article is not biased towards any specific political or religious ideology.
> Have breaking news delivered straight to your inbox
The CDC said if teens have less anxiety, they may be less motivated to get intoxicated.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses teen drinking and mental health. The authors have a conflict of interest on the topic of substance abuse as they are reporting for CDC which has a vested interest in this issue.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the relationship between teen drinking and mental health. The authors have a conflict of interest on the topic of substance abuse as they are reporting for CDC which has a vested interest in promoting healthy behaviors among teens.
One-third of teens say they struggle with depression or anxiety and use drugs and alcohol to cope.
> Most teens dealing with drug and alcohol addiction issues are self-medicating with illegal use of illicit substances or controlled drugs to help deal with stress.</
Teens who specifically misused prescription opioid painkillers or other prescription drugs were more likely to use them alone, increasing the likelihood of overdose deaths.
> Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled
> Drug Abuse Epidemic: More than 70% of fatal drug overdoses involve narcotic painkillers and an increasing number of children are now being prescribed high-risk opioid prescriptions for conditions that don't require heavy-duty painkillers, leading to even younger patients becoming addicted.
> Researchers warn that more than 75% of teens who use drugs also suffer from mental health conditions and use drugs as an attempt to self-medicate. They indicate the findings of the new study highlight a need for parents and caregivers to help teens seek treatment for mental health issues, like depression and anxiety, and to learn healthy ways to reduce stress and improve mental health overall.
> Alternative methods of stress relief should be highlighted to help teens learn to cope by turning to other options, such as meditation, talking to a friend or trusted adult, and seeking therapy. The CDC researchers called for teen education programs that highlight the risks of using drugs alone in schools and community programs.
Accuracy
> The most common reason teens reported they used or abused drugs was to try to feel calm, according to the CDC research. Half of teens said they used drugs or alcohol to have fun and experiment.</
Millions of Philips CPAP Machines Recalled
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that most teens dealing with drug and alcohol addiction issues are self-medicating with illegal use of illicit substances or controlled drugs to help deal with stress. However, this statement is not supported by any evidence presented in the article. Secondly, the author states that 44% of teens said they used substances to stop worrying or forget bad memories and 40% said it was to help with depression or anxiety. This implies that these teenagers were using drugs as a way to cope with their mental health issues, which is not accurate. Thirdly, the author states that most teens reported using marijuana but only mentions prescription pain medications, prescription stimulants, and prescription sedatives or tranquilizers in passing without providing any context or evidence about their usage. This creates an impression of a higher prevalence of these substances than what is actually presented in the article.
The statement '44% of teens said they used substances to stop worrying or forget bad memories, 40% said it was to help with depression or anxiety,' implies that these teenagers were using drugs as a way to cope with their mental health issues, which is not accurate.
The mention of prescription pain medications, prescription stimulants and prescription sedatives/tranquilizers in passing without providing any context or evidence about their usage creates an impression of a higher prevalence than what is actually presented in the article.
The statement 'Most teens dealing with drug and alcohol addiction issues are self-medicating with illegal use of illicit substances or controlled drugs to help deal with stress' is not supported by any evidence presented in the article.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the findings of a study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report without providing any context or analysis of the research methods used. Additionally, there are multiple instances where dichotomous depictions are made, such as when it is stated that most teens dealing with drug and alcohol addiction issues self-medicate with illegal use of illicit substances or controlled drugs to help deal with stress. This creates a false either/or choice between using drugs and not using them at all, which oversimplifies the complex issue of substance abuse. The author also uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that millions of Philips CPAP machines have been recalled due to potential cancer risks, without providing any information on how many cases have actually occurred or what specific models are affected. This creates a sense of urgency and fear in readers without providing them with accurate information. Finally, the author uses an informal fallacy by stating that more than 75% of teens who use drugs also suffer from mental health conditions and use drugs as an attempt to self-medicate, without providing any evidence or research to support this claim.
The appeal to authority: 'Researchers with the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a study on February 8 in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report,'
The dichotomous depiction: 'Most teens dealing with drug and alcohol addiction issues are self-medicating with illegal use of illicit substances or controlled drugs to help deal with stress.'
The inflammatory rhetoric: 'Millions of Philips CPAP machines have been recalled due to potential cancer risks,'
Bias
(85%)
Author Martha Garcia implies that the opioid epidemic is worsening in the US and places blame on doctors for prescribing high-risk opioids to adults. She also suggests alternative methods of stress relief such as meditation and therapy without providing evidence or quotes from experts.
More than 70% of fatal drug overdoses involve narcotic painkillers, which are often first prescribed by doctors to adults.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Martha Garcia has conflicts of interest on the topics of teenagers, depression, anxiety and stress. She also has a financial tie to Philips DreamStation CPAP machines.
Anxiety can lead to self-medication with drugs or alcohol.
.Depression is often linked with drug abuse in young people.
.Teenagers are at higher risk for substance use disorder than adults.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topics of marijuana, alcohol and prescription pain medications as they are all substances that can be used for self-medication.
> Most teens who use drugs are searching for calm and hoping to relieve stress.
> Mental health challenges among teens are a driver of drug misuse.
Given the proliferation of counterfeit pills that resemble prescription drugs and the significant risk of overdose while using alone, it is a concern when teens use prescription drugs alone.
Accuracy
Substance abuse is up among teens
73% of adolescents in the study reported using drugs and alcohol to feel mellow, calm or relaxed. Half said they did so to have fun or experiment. But 44% reported using drugs to stop worrying about a problem or forget bad memories, and 40% said they used them for depression or anxiety.
60% of the assessments documented alcohol, marijuana or other drug use in the previous month, with marijuana being the most-used substance (84%) along with alcohol (49%), nonprescription drugs (21%) and prescription drugs (19%).
> Feeling calm, relaxed or mellow was the most common reason for substance use.
Friends were the most common group with whom substances were used by adolescents.
> Teens who specifically misused prescription opioid painkillers or other prescription drugs were more likely to use them alone, increasing the likelihood of overdose deaths.
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by citing a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) without providing any context or analysis of the data presented in the report. Additionally, there is inflammatory rhetoric used throughout the article to sensationalize the topic of substance abuse among teens.
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