In 2023, results from the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) have been released, showing both encouraging and concerning trends among New Hampshire teens and their behaviors. Although vaping, alcohol and marijuana use among Granite State youth has decreased, according to the survey results, there are other trends that are reportedly on the rise, including feelings of hopelessness, dating violence and cyber bullying.

  • In 2021, 16.2% of students reported that they are currently vaping or using an electronic vapor product, which is down substantially from 33.8% in 2019.
  • In 2021, 21.3% of students said they drink alcohol compared to 26.8% in 2019. Similarly, 11.2% of students said they were binge drinking in 2021 compared to 14.4% in 2019.

Alcohol addiction can be detrimental to physical, mental, academic, and social factors for everybody, but even more so for teens. The Brown & Crouppen Law Firm recently made a guide about underage drinking and included information about that as well as the dangers of it, how to talk to teens about drinking, and other ways we can all ensure safety. Check it out below:

Underage Drinking – brownandcrouppen.com/underage-drinking-and-its-dangers/

Prevention:

DrugFreeNH.org offers prevention strategies including  age-appropriate advice on how to talk to your kids.

Talk. They Hear You is another campaign of SAMHSA aiming to reduce underage drinking among youth ages 9 to 15 by providing parents and caregivers with information and resources they need to start addressing the issue of alcohol with their children early.

Addiction:

The Addict’s Mom is a group focusing on mothers of addicted children.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a recovery support group.  Meetings are right here in town.   Need help?  Call their hotline at 1-800-593-3330.

Al-Anon/Alateen is a support group for friends and families of problem drinkers.  Meetings are as close as Bedford and Manchester.

Granite State Narcotics Anonymous focuses on addiction, the obsessive compulsive behavior, and recovery from it, not on any specific drug.  Meetings are as close as Bedford and Manchester.