Summer Break and Drug Use: Why Millennials are Suffering

Summer is often a huge deal for the millennial. Those still in college enjoy a much-deserved break from school while those with jobs take their vacation time to travel the world. However, summer often has a dark side in all generations and has become particularly harsh for millennials. It is during the summer that many youths fall into the throes of drug use and addiction and trigger a potential lifetime of abuse.

The types of drugs abused will vary wildly. Some will just smoke cigarettes and binge drink with their friends – which might seem tame to some – but this usage may cause more heavy drug abuse. For example, college students may take methamphetamine to increase their energy levels for summer classes, abuse Xanax or benzodiazepines to minimize their test anxiety, try opiates for the first time, and even get into heroin. All of these issues can make rehab an absolute necessity – otherwise, a millennial may suffer for years to come. This highlights the importance of understanding why addiction treatment is important.

What Statistics Say About First-Time Drug Use in the Summer

Many studies have examined the rates of first-time drug abuse in millennials to gauge when and why they fall into these problematic behaviors. One study – reported in multiple locations – found very startling results regarding summer drug abuse. Simply put, the first-time use of substances in the millennial generation – often during the teen years but sometimes later in life – peaked during June and July. Drug abuse rates during these months were incredibly high and potentially damaging to the health and well-being of these individuals. This underscores the need for detox programs and drug and alcohol treatment programs.

For example, it was found that around 11,000 people tried alcohol for the first time every day in June and July – a rate that is nearly double the daily average of most months. The pace here was similar for December, likely because of the impact of Christmas vacation and having a little fun with family members. And this increased rate was just one of many instances of first-time drug use during these months.

Why Summer Could Trigger Higher Drug Use Rates

The millennial generation is one with a more cynical worldview with a unique insight into the reality of life. As a result, they may think that they “understand” the dangers of substances like opiates, opioids, Xanax, and benzos, often better than their parents. Unfortunately, like their parent, they likely don’t fully understand these risks and are putting themselves in a dangerous position.

But why summer? Why abuse methamphetamine in the summer or even benzodiazepines? Why are drugs attractive to millennials during this time? Simply put, summer is a unique time of the year for just about everybody, particularly younger generations. These individuals have the energy to go on vacation, travel, and experiment with new activities. This finding aligns with the need for summer drug use awareness and understanding the seasonal triggers.

How to Gauge a Millennials’ Drug Use

Anyone worried about millennials abusing drugs in the summer need to know how to spot the common symptoms of addiction and how to manage the treatment properly. Typically, this process requires tracking changes in a person’s behavior – such as an increase in depression symptoms – and using this information to gauge whether they are going through the trauma of drug abuse. Typical signs of this problem include:

• Sleep Problems – Many substances – like methamphetamine – may make sleep very hard for a person. Alternatively, substances like benzodiazepines, heroin, and other types of opiates and opioids can make someone sleep too much, such as falling asleep in the middle of the day.
• Secretive Behavior – If a millennial gets defensive or lies about what they’re doing, they may have fallen into substance abuse. This symptom could also be common with anyone coming of age because they resent somebody telling them what to do.
• Swings in Mood – Drugs often affect a person’s mood in many ways. For example, benzos and Xanax may calm the mind at first but can trigger sudden mood swings without warning. Pay attention to this moodiness to gauge whether or not it is excessive for your loved one.
• Health Problems – Substance abuse may trigger a multitude of health issues that makes a person’s life more difficult, including dental health concerns and weaker immune systems. Watch how often a person gets sick in the summer to gauge this potential.
• Altered Appearance – When your loved one appears gaunt, sickly, confused, thinner, or older during the summer, they may have fallen into a pattern of drug abuse that is affecting their appearance in many ways.

When We Can Help

If you are a millennial who is suffering from the debilitating effects of drug abuse or if you know someone else who fell into addiction during the summer, you should contact us at His House today to get the help that you need for a drug-free life. Our professionals utilize a variety of recovery methods, including 12 step, detox, PTSD management, and dual-diagnosis to help you regain the happy life that drugs robbed from you.

Our beneficial recovery options focus on your needs and change based on how you react to treatment, the substances that you use, and your mental health. We’ll help you to remember the trauma that you’ve suppressed, work you through the anxiety that affects your life every day, and give you an insight into the depression that is making your life difficult. All of these complicated issues can cause a hard-to-escape situation that makes sobriety more difficult for you to achieve, particularly if you’ve been abusing substances for most of your young adulthood.

So please, make the right call and contact us today to get a free assessment of your situation. Then, you can schedule a visit to see what our facility has to offer. We work with people from all walks of life and try to find a payment option that meets your needs and which ensures that you are happy, healthy, and free from the horrible impact of drugs for the rest of your life. We look forward to working with you and helping you achieve sobriety.