I don’t have a theater kid, but know a ton. Very nice and accepting kids. Tends to draw LGBTQ kids and some kids (but not most) do thing like dye their hair or getting multiple piercings to “express their individuality.”

It would shock me if this group used drugs at a significantly higher rate than most other group of kids (band geeks, sports kids, etc).

The person you talked with needs to parent their kid. Because any kid who wants to find drugs in HS can. And a kid who isn’t interested in drugs isn’t going to use just because a small subset of kids in their activity does.

What actually matters isn’t the group of 60 kids spread across 4 years who happen to put on plays. Within that group will probably be some very alt kids using drugs and very preppy, straight arrow, rule following UVA/Ivy strivers. And all kinds of kids in between.

What matters is the individual kids your child chooses as close friends— who might or might not be in drama with them. Get to know these kids, make the effort meet their parents offer to do carpools— especially for longer trips— and quietly listen to the conversation in the back seat when they forget you are there. And, make your home a welcoming hang out. If your kid starts drinking/drug use, it probably will be based on what their close circle is doing, and not because of “drama kids”.

Your friend who thinks that they can tell their kid they can’t do an activity that might actually be an important outlet that improves well being. And that they have therefore done their job in terms of substance abuse in HS is delusional. It’s an ongoing process that involves parent involvement.

Theatre mom. Drama geeks are weird, true, but it's not because of the drugs. My DS has been doing theatre since MS, he is now a HS Junior. None of his friends are on drugs. Maybe on ADHD meds but that's about it.

I would think no more so than any other group in HS.

Anonymous wrote:Completely varies by school. But theater does tend to attract a wide range of kids and be pretty accepting. Some of those kids will have Issues with a capital I. But I don’t know that it’s the kind of trouble that spreads to other kids, if you know what I mean.

What do you mean?

The theater kids at our HS are the ones vaping in the bathrooms.

Just depends on the group of kids.

Anonymous wrote:This must be a school by school thing. When I was in HS the theater types were absolutely druggies.

Mine too but so were basically every other group of kids

Completely varies by school. But theater does tend to attract a wide range of kids and be pretty accepting. Some of those kids will have Issues with a capital I. But I don’t know that it’s the kind of trouble that spreads to other kids, if you know what I mean.

This must be a school by school thing. When I was in HS the theater types were absolutely druggies.

Those kids get higher than a satellite

Any kid at any time can experiment. Making kids be busy does not prevent anything. If kids want to experiential they will. I played outside with my friends at this age and never touched a drug.

I think it depends on the year, the kids and how permissive the parents are.

There are a couple of sports at our kids school that are well know for having kids who party with alcohol and or drugs. There are 2 or 3 sports known for very straight laced kids. The others will vary.

The same goes for theater, band, orchestra, choir, student government, etc, etc.

Teens experiment with things, whether it is the "good" kids or the "bad" kids. In one of my kid's grade, the wildest kids were the honor students. It really varies.

Anonymous wrote:It varies by school but at ours the jocks are the drinkers and druggies. Theater is straight edge and not really into drugs except caffiene

+1 same. jocks and popular girls (Cheerleaders) do the most drugs and drinking.

They are less into at my son's school.

Not any more or less than any other group of kids.

That mom is in for a rude awakening.