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National survey highlights teen depression

By Staff Writer

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently released their 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, which aims to highlight the number of teens who suffer from depression and the results that can come from it.

According to the survey, about 2 million teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17 had a major depressive episode (MDE) in the past year. However, only about one-third of these youths received treatment for depression.

Youths who suffer from even occasional MDEs are more likely to experiment with illegal drugs. The survey shows that almost 20 percent of these teens used prescription medications recreationally, compared with only 7 percent of youths who did not have MDEs. Similarly, about 4 percent of depressed teens drank alcohol heavily, while only 2 percent of youths who were not depressed reported doing so.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, teens who are depressed may act sad, miserable, lonely or angry for extended periods of time. If parents believe their child behaves this way, they can research schools for troubled youths, which can prevent teens from abusing drugs or doing harm to themselves as a result of this disorder. 

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