Before Our Kids Are Old Enough to Drink, Millions Have Started Abusing Illicit Substances

A look at the average ages that American children start abusing substances to get high produces some startling results. Statistics reported by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) shows that the average age for first use of seven dangerous drugs or illicit substances is under 21 years.

Average age of first of inhalants such as spray paint and canned air for cleaning computers is 15.7 years, followed by the hallucinogen PCP at 16.3 years and marijuana at 17.4 years. Average ages for first use of LSD, cocaine, Ecstasy and heroin all fell between 19.4 years and 20.7 years.

SAMHSA also estimates that about two million people started using marijuana last year, more than a million of them between the ages of 12 and 17. More than 400,000 Americans between 12 and 17 used cocaine and 1.4 million abused a prescription drug.

“With the summer months coming on, more children are going to have more unsupervised time,” stated Derry Hallmark, Director of Admissions and Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor at Narconon Arrowhead. Narconon Arrowhead is one of the country’s largest drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers, located in Canadian, Oklahoma. “It’s up to parents more than anyone else to take the stand that the only acceptable amount of drug use is none at all. This message is not likely to come from television, movies or music. But a parent talking to his children about drugs and helping them stay busy and supervised over the summer months can be the difference between a fun summer and one in which a child begins a lifelong drug habit.”