Guess how many Laramie County teens say they’ve talked to a parent about substance use?

After conducting two separate surveys—one with Laramie County teens, another with parents of Laramie County teens—we learned that while 96% of parents say they’ve talked with their kids about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol or drug use, only 51% of Laramie County teens can say the same.

So, we asked parents:

“What resources would you find helpful to kick-start a conversation about underage substance use with your teen?”

With 75% of the vote, substance fact sheets took home the win. You’ll find those facts below in the form of simple, easy-to-read infographics about alcohol, marijuana and e-cigarettes/vaping.  

Additional Resources

For more information about underage substance abuse prevention, visit the resources below.

• Cool2SayNo.com
• Download a PDF of all the infographics above

Infographic Statistic Resources

1. Marijuana’s effects on attention span, memory and learning may last for weeks, or even be permanent. (https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects.html) 
2. Teens who use marijuana before age 18 are up to seven times more likely to develop a drug problem. (https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana-facts-teens/some-things-to-think-about)
3. Heavy marijuana use is linked to lower income, unemployment, and lower life satisfaction. (https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/how-does-marijuana-use-affect-school-work-social-life) 
4. Marijuana smoke contains more carcinogens than cigarette smoke. (https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/what-are-marijuanas-effects-lung-health)
5. Marijuana use can lead to the development of long-lasting mental disorders, including schizophrenia. (https://www.cdc.gov/marijuana/health-effects.html)
6. In 2019, a study showed that one in four 12th graders, one in five 10th graders, and one in ten 8th graders said they had vaped in the past month. (https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/monitoring-future-2019-survey-results-vaping)
7. 66% of teens believe they’re vaping “just flavoring.”. (https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/infographics/teens-e-cigarettes)
8. A recent CDC study found that 99% of the e-cigarettes sold in assessed venues in the United States contained nicotine. (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html)
9. Using nicotine while the brain is still developing can harm the parts of the brain that control attention span, learning, mood, and impulse control. (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html)
10. In 2019, 41% of Laramie County high school students said they had vaped in the last 30 days. (https://www.cheyenneregional.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Laramie-County-Needs-Assessment.pdf) 
11. In 2019, 39% of Laramie County high school students said they had used alcohol in the last 30 days. 
12. In Cheyenne, a ticket for underage drinking will show up in any background checks by future employers, military recruiters, or colleges. (Cheyenne Police Department) 
13. In 2018, 40% of 10th and 12th graders said they had consumed alcohol at home within the past year. (https://www.pnasurvey.org/ExploreData/Chart/AlcoholCommunity/AlcoholLocationOfUse/319/9/11/0/0/0/14)
14. More than 20% of underage drinkers began drinking before age 13. (https://www.samhsa.gov/node/60149)
15. The part of the brain responsible for forming new memories was noticeably smaller in youth who abused alcohol than in their non-drinking peers. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK37591/)