Drug and alcohol abuse amongst teens rose for the first time after a decade long decline, according to a national study just released by the Partnership for a Drug-Free America.

Local teens with the Center for Teen Empowerment weighed in on the study. They say they are not surprised that drug and alcohol abuse is on the rise. Today's economy isn't only stressing out adults, but teenagers too, and they say that just creates another reason to use.

"I'm stressing out over going to school, having to find some money, having to take care of responsibilities I shouldn't have. It's like I need a way to escape...so a lot of young people turn to drugs. They need some type of way to get away from the reality of life," said Shanterra Randle, 20.

Randle is a student at Monroe Community College and is also involved with the Center for Teen Empowerment. She said she knows a lot of teenagers who turn to drugs to cope.

"The common one that I know is smoking weed or marijuana. I don't know anyone on cocaine or heroin. But weed seems like the way out for a lot of people," she said.

According to the national study, the number of teens in grades 9 through 12 who reported drinking alcohol in the last month rose 11 percent last year, to 39 percent in 2009. Teens using ecstasy showed a 67 percent increase to 10 percent in 2009. Marijuana use increased 19 percent to 38 percent in 2009.

"Actually if I can point to something a lot of young people are talking about is, they are very aware of the recession and the fact that there are less jobs," said Doug Ackley.

Ackley is the Director of Teen Empowerment in Rochester. He says drugs and alcohol are the easiest things for young people to get a hold of. When it comes to the common drug marijuana, it's cheap and easy to find. Ackley says positive outlets should be more accessible than drugs.

"From our point of view being disconnected from society, from schools, from systems, from programs, after school programs and adults, that feeling of being disconnected is a big factor that weighs into it," added Ackley.

Laurel Ciccaglione, 16, said her community involvement is what keeps her on the road to making the right choices.

I'm with my friends a lot and we do a lot of more positives. We help out around the community. I'm on MYAC (Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council). Things like that there are people I know that count on me. Being counted on is one thing that keeps me out of trouble,” said Ciccaglione.

Center for Teen Empowerment