Behind the walls of his bedroom, Jack Burningham* sits at his desk, surrounded by books. He, and another 17% of students, struggle with substance use. Schoolwork becomes a struggle for him, so much so that the extracurricular activities he once enjoyed now feel like a burden and a waste of time. Every meeting in the school clubs he goes to is a challenge for him.

“The pressure to succeed at school can be very overwhelming at times. Many others, just like myself, feel the need for perfect grades and the best possible extracurricular activities to plan for college at the same time,” Burningham said.

However, for students like Burningham, school-related stress becomes more than a temporary feeling; it affects them daily. According to the American Psychological Association, these students relate to the population of young adults who say they experience 60% stress levels daily. This percentage correlates with rising levels of anxiety and depression among students. 

This leads to some students using unhealthy coping strategies to deal with their problems.

“I sometimes use substances to cope with academic stress,” Burningham said.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, teenagers may use drugs in an attempt to relieve their stress, feeling like there is no other way to escape their emotions.

The biological toll

Dr. Naveen Mahmood, a pediatric doctor at Sutter Health in Palo Alto, explains the reasons for this phenomenon. Too much short-term stress is not always a bad thing. However, constant stress over a long period of time is detrimental and disrupts hormonal balances in the body.

“Because chronic stress begins to deplete some of our protective hormones, that puts us in this chronic inflammatory state, and ultimately that can lead to things like brain fog, fatigue, and an effect on mood,” Mahmood said.

Because of this, some students turn to substances to self-diagnose and treat these issues. 

The effects of substance abuse may be seen in a few subtle ways, such as avoiding activities that one used to enjoy or not talking to their friends anymore. Mahmood explains that it is critical to recognize these signs and to talk to a student in crisis.

“Changes in behavior, changes in mood, changes in sleeping patterns, irritability, and really impulsive behavior,” Mahmood said.

The perfect storm

Many students use drugs to cope with stress, but the problem is not that simple. Gregg Patner, a vice principal at Carlmont High School, explains that the stress students face doesn’t only come from school. He says that stress can stem from outside factors, too. 

“A lot of the students are taking more coursework outside of school to differentiate themselves to prove their worth to colleges. There is an effort to be a leader of a club and then be involved in many sports,” Patner said.

According to the National Library of Medicine, the pressures students face work together to create what researchers call the “perfect storm” of stress. They find that stress that comes from academic pressure is related to higher instances of drug use.

Despite these resources, stress levels still increase in schools, sometimes due to seasonal changes. Stress levels tend to peak around October due to college applications, holidays, and other life events.

“Stress comes and goes in waves. I think that when we are in the middle of a stressful situation, it always feels like it’s the most stressful situation we have ever been in,” said Grant Steunenberg, a vice principal at Carlmont. 

Systems of support

The response to students in need is evident in Steunenberg’s description of the school’s wellness center.

“We have a wellness center that is directed by a coordinator, along with multiple therapists on campus for students to use when in need,” Steunenberg said. “We also have a system called SOS, or Students Offering Support, for our students to get help from their peers who can relate to them more.”

Steunenberg makes it clear that easy access to support for whatever a student needs is crucial to reducing stress in daily life.

Both vice principals highlight the value of building relationships with others to reduce stress. Adults who are closer to students and interact with them often can spot warning signs of stress before it is too late.

“When teachers build relationships, the students have an understanding and talk to them, getting to know the student is all part of some strategies that I think the teachers use,” Patner said. 

Moving toward recovery

There are also sources of support outside of school that can help students manage their stress. According to the National Library of Medicine, engaging in sports or other activities decreases the chance of stress-related substance abuse among teens. It was discovered that students who engage in these types of social groups are more stress-resistant than those who do not.

“It would be nice if there were a teen-focused recovery room. When I say recovery room, it’s typically something that is aligned with the 12-step recovery process that is used with Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Gambling Anonymous, or Marijuana Anonymous,” Steunenberg said.

During these hard times, he recommends students to “find a trusted adult to talk to.” 

“If a student is struggling, it is very important for them to find a trusted adult to talk to. A trusted adult will either be that person you can unload with, or they will try to help you find someone who has the expertise,” Steunenberg said.

*This source’s name is changed to protect them from legal harm. For more information on Carlmont Media’s anonymous sourcing, check out Scot Scoop’s Anonymous Sourcing Policy.

This story was originally published on Scot Scoop News on April 13, 2026.