Summer can be a risky time for teens. More teens try marijuana and cigarettes for the first time in June and July than any other time of the year. First-time use of alcohol by youth also increases during the summer months. Check out the Family Guide Web Site’s series on the increased risk of drug use during the summer months to help keep your child healthy all year long.

Summer Friendships and Increased Risk of Drug Use
You may be doing a great job teaching your kids not to use alcohol or drugs, but what about the messages they’re getting from some of their friends? Kids seem to get caught in a tug of war between what they hear from their parents and what they hear from their peers. In reality, study after study has found that parents can make a big difference in the choices their children make.

Marijuana Use Rises During Summer
During which months do more teens try marijuana for the first time?

A. January and February
B. April and May
C. June and July
D. September and October

The answer is C—June and July. There is a 40 percent increase in the number of youth who try marijuana for the first time during these 2 months compared to the rest of the year. 1 Each day in June and July, an average of 6,300 youth try marijuana for the first time. 2 Think of it like this—that’s 700 baseball teams.

Teen Girls Drink More Than Boys
"Sugar and spice, and everything nice; that's what little girls are made of." Maybe. But as they grow up, those little girls are drinking more than boys in all categories-beer, wine, alcopops, and hard-liquor drinks. With their sweet, sugary taste, alcopops have become girls' drink of choice. About one-third of teen girls say they have tried alcopops. Teen girls also report drinking alcopops more than other alcoholic drinks.

Too Many Kids Are Wasting Their Breath on Inhalants
What do nail polish remover, lighter fluid, a can of whipped cream, and glue have in common? They are just a few of the hundreds of everyday products that can be abused to get high. Curious youths often try inhalants because they are cheap, legal, and easy to get. However, inhalants are harmful and can be deadly. As parents, you can do a lot to prevent your children from risking their futures-and even their lives-with inhalants.