As we approach the holidays, it’s a good idea to talk about the risks of substance use. That’s why every October we mark Substance Use Prevention Month to remember those we’ve lost and honor people in recovery. Substance use often keeps families apart and kids from coming home. Research also shows that the earlier a young person starts using alcohol or other drugs, the greater their lifetime risk of misuse or addiction.
That’s why Saint Francis meets people where they are. Our alcohol and drug counseling programs recognize that every recovery journey is unique, so we offer personalized care instead of a one-size-fits-all approach.
Our evidence-based, family-oriented outpatient and intensive outpatient programs support:
- Pre-adolescents and adolescents facing substance challenges.
- Adults seeking lasting recovery through healing of body, mind, and spirit.
- Families coping with the effects of substance use.
A strong program matters, but people also need the support of family and friends to recover.
Here’s the good news. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that most young people ages 12-17 are not using substances. According to its 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health:
- 94 percent did not drink alcohol in the past month.
- 93 percent did not use tobacco or vape nicotine in the past month.
- 89 percent did not use illicit drugs, including marijuana, in the past year.
The trend is encouraging, too. Between 2021 and 2025, the share of adolescents who used illicit drugs in the past year fell from about 15 percent to 11 percent, and past-month alcohol use dropped from about 7 to 6 percent.
Not every trend is moving in the right direction, though. Past-month nicotine vaping among adolescents (6 percent) has shown no significant change since 2022. Vaping is now the main way teens use nicotine: about 71 percent of adolescents who use nicotine products only vape. It’s also common with marijuana, since nearly 70 percent of teens who used marijuana in the past month vaped it.
Vapes are small and easy to hide, so families may not see the signs. Talking openly and early with kids about vaping can make a real difference.
For young people who have used substances and for their parents, family health depends on both prevention and treatment. SAMHSA says prevention aims to:
- Stop substance use before it starts.
- Stop use from progressing to a substance use disorder.
- Reduce the harm that comes with substance use.
You can help improve the numbers even more. If you know someone struggling with addiction or substance use, point them to www.saintfrancisministries.org/behavioral-health to get the help they need.
