An article in today's New York Times discusses research about differences between adolescents and adults in their perceptions of the risks and benefits of "risky behaviors"--including speeding, drug and alcohol use, and unprotected sex--and differences between older and younger adolescents.
The essence is that adolescents have pretty accurate perceptions of the risk involved in these behaviors or, in fact, overestimate the risks. Rather, they appear consistently to overestimate the benefits of the risky behavior. One implication is that providing more information on the risks of such behaviors may increase the behaviors intended for prevention because it informs the youth that they have overestimated their risks. Read the rest of the article for one approach to overcoming this dilemma.
What might this imply for treatment of adolescents with substance use disorders in Tennessee? How does this fit with current practice and anticipated future practices?
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