Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Top Substance Use Trends: Social Media Influence

 


Social Media has transformed how substances are marketed and normalized. Content producers can push content making substance use look cool and fun, and teens are often exposed to misinformation. 

What is most concerning is that social media trends or  "challenges" involving substances can go viral and lead to excessive use or even glorify state of influences. The high view count of these kinds of posts can push influencers to promote these trends and/or specific brands of alcohol or cannabis products.

Stay familiar with your teen's social platforms. Follow some of the same accounts they do. Create a family social media plan that includes critical thinking about sponsored content. A simple conversation starter could be "I noticed some of those social media videos show people partying with certain drinks or substances. Do you and your friends ever talk about whether that stuff is real or staged?"

This is the last in our series of Top Substance Use Trends and we hope that you will research further to learn more about each of the important topics. It is inevitable that our young people are going to encounter substances. A parent's goal is not to create fear around substance use, but to build trust and communication. Find opportunities to talk about substance misuse and risk - rather than one big drug talk. Focus on health and safety, not just rules. With honest dialogue and good information, you can provide your child with the tools they need to make better, healthier decisions.



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