Assets and Drug Use

Of all the data around the power of assets to protect young people from unhealthy choices, this may be the most powerful. Notice on the chart to the right that only 1% of kids with the highest asset levels (above 31 assets) ever use illicit drugs like marijuana, cocaine, meth, heroin, etc. But who is at highest risk? The data shows that over on third of kids who are at the lowest asset level are using drugs.

According to many addiction experts the kids with the lowest assets are not using drugs to feel good. They are using to try to feel normal. Kids with the lowest asset levels are often at higher risk for depression, suicidal thoughts, mental illness and other social and psychological problems. Drugs are a way to self-medicate and temporarily ease the pain of these burdens. The young people in the middle of this chart represent the kids that are most vulnerable to peer pressure and spontaneous opportunities to try drugs. The highest asset level students don't use drugs simply because it is incompatible with who they are and what they wish to acheive.

If we truly wish to have a lasting impact on the drug problem in our communities, we must first get serious about building assets in our young people.