Teens are Buying Drugs on Social Media - Here's What You Should Know
The tragic death of Dr. Laura Berman’s 16 year old son last week has brought to light an issue that many parents are not aware of when it comes to their kids and the online world. Drug use. Berman’s son was found dead in his room from a fentanyl overdose. There were no signs that he had ever been a drug user and he hadn’t gone anywhere to purchase the drugs - he bought them on Snapchat and they came straight to his home. This is a terrifying scenario and every parent’s worst nightmare. I want to take some time here to outline exactly what is going on in terms of social media and the drug trade and well as offer up some guidance on how to talk to our teens about the subject in a way that is open and calm. To be clear, drug use and abuse is not my area of expertise, so I offer here information that I have gathered from experts and legitimate news sources to help guide you in these conversations.
First some good news. Drug use by teens is at the lowest rate it’s been in over 30 years - that’s amazing! Now, some bad news - deaths from overdoses are at their highest rate. Mostly this seems to be due to synthetic opioids like fentanyl. According to the New York Times, “synthetic opioids have become the fastest-growing cause of the overdose epidemic, overtaking heroin in some areas. Just a few flakes of fentanyl can be fatal.” But fentanyl and opioids are not the only drugs being sold online. Anyone can easily find cannabis, Xanax, cocaine, Percocet and other drugs through social media.
The most popular platforms for buying drugs online are Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook and Grindr, but other communication apps such as WhatsApp, Tinder, Twitter and Whisper have been used as well. According to research by The McAfee Institute buying drugs on these platforms is “easier than buying a cup of coffee.”
Let’s talk for a moment about the ways in which social media’s algorithms end up putting images of drug use and /or advertising in front of kids. In 2011 ( yes that was 10 years ago, I know) a survey of 2000 teens out of Columbia University found that teenagers who were heavier users of social media were also
Five times more likely to buy cigarettes
Three times more likely to drink
Twice as likely to use marijuana
than light or non users of social media.
And now, 10 years later, we can assume that many more kids are on social media a lot more of the time. The more time kids spend on social media the more they are exposed to images or friends, acquaintances, celebrities partying, drinking and doing drugs on a regular basis. The effect of this is that it all starts to feel “normal” and less like a potentially harmful (or deadly) activity. The algorithms on these apps are designed to serve up more of what we are interested in, therefore a kid who gets curious about drugs and uses certain hashtags to search or peek in on certain drug heavy social media accounts will suddenly be seeing a lot more posts with similar content in their feed.
Then comes the purchasing. When we were growing up buying drugs meant venturing into uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situations - a natural deterrent. But, according to the Banyan Treatment Center buying through social media couldn’t be easier, “Once connected through social media and the buyer places their order, the dealer simply needs an address. They will then send the drugs through mail or drop-off the goods at the given location and the buyer can send money through apps like PayPal. Because of this fast and easy delivery service, buying drugs on social media is a lot less intimidating than trying to find drug dealers on a sketchy street corner.”
You may be thinking “my kid is fine - they have no interest in drugs.” But, I would caution parents not to make this assumption. Teenagers are curious by nature and more open to taking risks. A teenager who is bored, anxious, depressed or even just trying to fit in may be tempted to try a drug - especially if it’s easy, quick and anonymous. So what should we do as parents to help guide our children away from trying drugs? For the answer to this question I turned to various sources, all of which of course prescribe talking regularly and openly with kids about such issues. I am going to share some of what I found from the Partnership to End Addiction. These are excerpts - the linked article has very extensive and detailed suggestions.
Stay involved
Staying involved and keeping tabs on teens’ activities — both online and off — can be another way of demonstrating that you care and can help develop a stronger parent-teen relationship. This is especially true if you communicate the reason why you’re interested in their actions and whereabouts. It’s important to stress that it’s not to be nosy or intrusive, but rather because you’re interested and care about them.
Find opportunities for real conversation
Keep in mind that teens say that when it comes to substances, their parents are the most important influence. That’s why it’s important to talk — and listen — to your teen. So, try to talk. A lot. Discuss the negative effects of nicotine, alcohol and drugs. Clearly communicate that you do not want your teen using substances.
Approach your talks with openness
Keep an open mind. If you want to have a productive conversation with your teen, try to keep an open mind and remain curious and calm. That way, your child is more likely to be receptive to what you have to say.
Offer empathy & support
Let your child know you understand. The teen years can be tough. Acknowledge that everyone struggles sometimes, but drugs and alcohol are not a useful or healthy way to cope with problems. Let your child know they can trust you.
In addition to these conversations I would advise parents to:
Before getting your child a phone make sure they are really ready and hold off as long as possible on social media.
Monitor and keep tabs on their teens social media accounts by following them and periodically checking in.
Keep an eye on any money exchange or payment apps such as PayPal, Venmo, Apple or Android Pay etc.
Be wary of any small unmarked packages arriving for your child in the mail or by messenger.
Try to stay up to date on the newest apps, trends, emojis and hashtags that teens are using (may be easier said than done!)
As parents we are already so wary of the ways in which the online world can negatively impact our children, adding this additional concern almost feels like too much. I would just advise that keeping lines of communication open, becoming your child’s ally and letting them know that you are there for them NO MATTER WHAT goes a long way. The more we have open conversations with our kids and the more we spend time listening to them and getting their take on these things the more likely they are to think critically and pause before making dangerous choices. Yes, teenagers need independence and freedom, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need our guidance and help. Can we keep them 100% safe at all times? No. But, we can create safe boundaries, guide, mentor, support and love - that has always been and continues to be our most important job.
PS - for more on why teens are susceptible to drug use and how it affects their brain this is an excellent article from one of my favorite resources Hey Sigmund : https://www.heysigmund.com/teens-drugs-parents-need-know-conversation-response/