Nearly 10 percent of North Carolina's population has an addiction problem, and the cost to our state is estimated at $12.4 billion each year. Nationwide, nearly half of all 12th graders have taken an illicit drug, according to Monitoring the Future. Learn more about the impact of drugs and substance abuse by visiting the links below.

Spotlight: Transition Time = Time to Talk

Top 5 Reasons Teens Use Drugs During Transitions:

• To combat loneliness, low self-esteem, anxiety, or depression
• To mentally “check out” of family issues or school trouble
• To ease discomfort in an unfamiliar situation
• To look cool or change their image/reputation
• To fit in with a desired group of friends

A 2007 Partnership for a Drug-Free America study of 6,500 teens indicated that the number one reason teens use drugs is to cope with school stress, and according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the key risk periods for adolescent drug abuse are during major transitions, such as entering middle or high school or leaving home for college. A recent online survey of more than 2,500 moms conducted by Vocalpoint.com and the Partnership revealed that their number-one concern about back-to-school time is that their child "might be exposed to kids who drink or use drugs" (29 percent), followed closely by worries that their teens "will feel pressure to do well academically or pressure from tests" (22 percent).

The research-based guide "Transitions & Teens: A Guide for Parents" is available as a free download at TimeToTalk.org, and was created in consultation with parenting experts, psychologists and family therapists. The guide helps parents understand how transition periods—like back to school, starting a new school, divorce, and even financial trouble at home—can impact a child’s vulnerability to risky behaviors, including drugs and alcohol.