State of the Georgia Girl Report

Substance Abuse The use of controlled substances during adolescence can lead to immediate consequences as well as long-term substance use disorders and other challenges, including cognitive and physical impacts. Even in circumstances where adolescent use of controlled substances is low, research shows that the perception youth have of substance use is itself a leading indicator of a risky future relationship with controlled substances. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, people who use alcohol before the age of 15 are four times more likely to develop an alcohol use disorder later in life , compared to those who have their first drink at age 20 or older (Office of the Surgeon General, 2016). Similarly, research suggests that early-onset cannabis use contributes to higher risks of cognitive impacts such as a decline in IQ, memory, and processing speed (Gonzalez, 2012). 1 in 7 middle and high school girls have used alcohol; 1 in 14 have used marijuana at least one time. Georgia Department of Education, Georgia Student Health Survey – Middle and High School, 2023–2024

Georgia Upper School Students Reporting Substance Use 1 or More Times

14% 14% 14%

Alcohol

4% 5% 4% 4% 5% 7% 7% 1% 3% 1% 2% 3% 2% 4% 4% 4%

Cigarette

Other Tobacco

Marijuana

Methamphetamines

Illegal Drugs

Prescription Drugs

Female

Male

Interestingly, across Georgia, more boys than girls report using controlled substances – a notable departure from emerging national trends in which adolescent girls have begun to report substance use at rates equal to or higher than their male peers. The types of controlled substances most used by adolescents remain consistent, however, dominated by the use of alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco products. Although Georgia’s patterns may appear comparatively favorable for girls, any use of controlled substances is becoming more risky: contamination of illicit drugs with deadly substances like fentanyl has dramatically increased the risk of fatal overdose among adolescents who do use. Between 2019 and 2021, the rate of adolescent drug overdose deaths nationally nearly doubled, with fentanyl-involved fatalities accounting for the majority of cases (Friedman, 2022). The toxicity of today’s drug supply means that even one-time experimentation can carry irreversible consequences.

POWERED BY THE GIRL SCOUT COUNCILS SERVING THE STATE OF GEORGIA 31