Teens begin coalitions to prevent drug use

Students across the U.S. are beginning to band together in an effort to curb drug and alcohol use among their peers. As a result, schools and government agencies are backing their endeavors and helping steer troubled teens toward drug addiction treatment centers.

For instance, in Mississippi's Madison and Rankin Counties, teens are teaming up to send a drug prevention message that they feel their peers may be more likely to listen because it comes from young people, not adults, the Madison County Herald reports.

The youth coalition aims to quell the misconception among teens that consuming alcohol is more acceptable than using illicit drugs. They added that many teens use alcohol in conjunction with other drugs, most notably prescription medication, which could lead to opiate addiction.

They plan to set up information stations where their peers can learn facts and figures that show that underage drinking is not in their best interests in the short- and long-term. Adolescents often begin consuming alcohol as a result of peer pressure.

A 2009 Monitoring the Future Survey shows that 37 percent of eighth grade students have consumed alcohol at least once in their lifetime.