Teens in Foster Care Are Less Likely to Talk With a Parent or Guardian About the Dangers of Substance Use

A new report, based on data from SAMHSA’s National Survey on Drug Use and Health, reveals that adolescents ages 12-17 in foster care are significantly less likely to talk to a parent or guardian about the dangers of substance use compared with their peers. 58.9% of adolescents living with biological parents have these discussions, and 57.6% of adolescents living with adoptive parents have these talks. But the percentage drops to 51.1 for adolescents in foster care.