In 2011, CASAColumbia at Columbia University (CASAColumbia) conducted the 16th annual back-to-school survey, the "National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XVI: Teens and Parents" (http://www.centeronaddiction.org/newsroom/press-releases/2011-national-teen-surv), and included, for the first time, questions on the use of social media. Seventy percent of those in the age group of 12-17 years (17 million individuals) used social media, and 40% of them had seen images of other teens using drugs. It was found that those on social media were five times more likely to use tobacco, three times more likely to use alcohol, and twice as likely to use marijuana. The teens who had seen pictures of kids getting drunk or passed out or using drugs on social networking sites were three times more likely to use alcohol, four times more likely to use marijuana and to be able to get marijuana, almost three times more likely to be able to get controlled prescription drugs without a prescription, and more than twice as likely to be able to get alcohol in a day or less. Their friends and classmates were more to abuse illegal and prescription drugs. At the same time, 87%-89% of parents had no concern that using social media and seeing other teens using and abusing drugs put their children at risk.

This group (12-17 years old in 2011) is part of the Millennial or Net Generation often referred to as Digital Natives. They have grown up with social media and are very comfortable with social media, and social media has a large impact on their lives and who they are. Previous generations have a large learning curve to catch up. Check out the following sites for more information on substance use and social media, its impact, and how we can use it and learn from it.

[white circle] http://www.centeronaddiction.org/.

[white circle] http://www.centeronaddiction.org/the-buzz-blog/does-smartphone-addiction-really-

The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASAColumbia) was established in 1992 by a former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and is funded by grants from federal and state agencies, private and corporate foundations, and charitable donations. It speaks with the authority of a nonprofit composed of scientific collaborators. The site is up-to-date and bears the HON seal backing health information on the net. Information is free, easily accessed without special software, and intended for a wide audience. A recent blog focused on smartphone addiction.

[white circle] https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-events/news-releases/2014/10/using-social-media-t

In 2014, the National Institute on Drug Abuse awarded 11 grants (more than $11 million over 3 years) for research into how to advance the scientific understanding, prevention, and treatment of substance use and addiction using social media. This site has the press release including a PDF that can be downloaded. The results are not in yet, but you can check out the National Institute on Drug Abuse site with its rich resources for professionals, patients and families, parents and children, and educators. The site includes links to software and all social media sites.

[white circle] http://www.samhsa.gov/capt/tools-learning-resources/social-media-support-prevent

[white circle] http://www.samhsa.gov/social-media

The Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies. One of the things they point out is that Web sites cannot be static. Since the advent of social media, it is necessary to have online communication. Under the tools and learning resources tab of Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies, there is a six-step plan for social media communication. SAMHSA follows their own advice by including links to social media sites on each page and a section on how SAMHSA implements social media communication on the About Us page. The site is current, has authority, makes contact information available in all forms, and offers the resources free of charge.

[white circle] http://www.arcr.niaaa.nih.gov/arcr/arcr361/toc36_1.htm

[white circle] http://www.arcr.niaaa.nih.gov/arcr/arcr361/article08.htm

Many journals now have an online presence. Some are only published as e-journals. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has Alcohol Research, Current Reviews. The links above are for the issue Alcohol Research and eHealth Technology, 36(1), from 2014. All of the articles focus on the various ways in which e-health technology can be used. Of special interest is Moreno and Whitehill's article, "Influence of Social Media on Alcohol Use in Adolescents and Young Adults." Try this article, and then find your own online sources for e-journals and e-articles.

[white circle] https://www.teenrehabcenter.org/resources/social-media-impact/

[white circle] https://www.tarzanatc.org/teen-alcohol-and-drug-trends-on-social-media/

[white circle] http://turningpointcenters.com/blog/socialmediateendruguse/

[white circle] https://www.promises.com/articles/teens/social-media-teens-and-substance-abuse/

[white circle] https://www.rightstep.com/alcohol-and-drug-addiction/social-media-addiction-link

This grouping of URLs refers to Web sites of treatment facilities, or links to finding a treatment facility, for teens or adolecents. Check out the content, but remember, the bias is toward attracting business. Check for the origin of the information, whether it is current and from an authority. The focus will be toward parents and teens, rather than healthcare professionals, so it will give an idea of what is currently being said or promoted in the community. The more professional of these sites will be linked to social media and encourage social media communication.

[white circle] http://journals.lww.com/jan/pages/default.aspx

[white circle] https://twitter.com/AddictionsNrsng or @AddictionsNrsng

[white circle] https://www.facebook.com/JournalOfAddictionsNursing

The Journal of Addictions Nursing (JAN) has an online presence. The Web site gives access to the current and back issues of the journal in an electronic format and is free to members of the International Nurses Society on Addictions when they register. The home page has information on calls for special topic issues, listings of the top viewed or emailed articles, and an interest poll. Links are also available for the current issue, past issues, instructions for authors, and a mobile version for accessing the journal on mobile devices. As the JAN also has a Twitter and Facebook presence, there are hot links to those social media sites. Check in to Twitter and Facebook from the JAN Web site or using your usual method of accessing social media. Become a Digital Native nurse. Follow and like the JAN on https://www.facebook.com/JournalOfAddictionsNursing and @AddictionsNrsng or https://twitter.com/AddictionsNrsng.