Findings from a new study, "Privileged But Pressured? A Study of Affluent Youth" published in the academic journal Child Development, show that adolescents who are pressured to get into a top college or feel socially isolated are more likely to get involved with alcohol and other drugs. The news might not be as shocking if the study focused on high school juniors and seniors—after all, they are the ones competing for acceptance letters from the Nation's top universities. Instead, the study focused on 6th- and 7th-grade students in an affluent Northeast suburb where the typical family earns more than $100,000 per year. These well-to-do 11- to 13-year-olds engage in early and excessive substance abuse, triggered, researchers found, by social isolation and the pressure—even at such an early age—to get into a top college.

The study asked 6th- and 7th-graders about their alcohol and drug use, their family relationships, and their emotional well-being. Participants also were asked to rank how much their parents valued different achievements or qualities, such as getting good grades, securing a high income in the future, being an honest person, or giving to others.

Study authors found high levels of stress and substance use among tweens who reported the most pressure to achieve academically and in extracurricular activities. Distress levels also were high among those who had the least after-school adult supervision. Study authors also say that their study shows that suburban teens use alcohol and other drugs to insulate themselves from the stresses of life.

Adolescents growing up in wealthy, suburban communities are at much greater risk for depression and substance abuse than most people might expect. In fact, teen substance use is on the rise in suburbia, in many cases eclipsing drug use in lower-income urban areas. Parent involvement and support are critical to preventing teens from all walks of life from using alcohol and drugs. Even though adolescents may spend more time with their peers and may seem to value their friends' opinions more than their parents' opinions, youth continue to report that parents are the most powerful influence in their lives. Being a source of encouragement and support will help your tween stay de-stressed and steer clear of alcohol and drugs.

Courtesy of Reality Check.