What are the Signs of Teenage Drug Abuse?

Most teenagers experience a change in behavior patterns as they go through adolescence.  Mild symptoms of withdrawal from family activities, expressing the need for privacy and wanting to spend all their time with friends is normal teenage conduct.  The key for parents and family members is to continue communication yet respect the teenager’s individuality and privacy.

Very often if a teenager begins using drugs, they will show an immediate change in their attitude, ability to concentrate and level of energy.  Severe mood swings, irritability and particularly uncontrolled anger may be the first warning signs.  If they stop attending school, their grades drop or they join a new group of friends who never visit the house, drugs may be involved.

The physical signs of teenage drug abuse include red or swollen eyes, excessive fatigue, depression or uncontrolled jittering and hyperactivity.  Other evidence may be rolling papers, plastic baggies or prescription drug containers that do not belong to them.  Cigarette smoking and alcohol use may accompany a teenager who is starting to abuse drugs.

How to Help with Teenage Drug Abuse

The best way to help a teenager with potential drug abuse is to correct the problem as soon as possible.  It is not always easy to approach a teenage family member if they seem distant or belligerent but ignoring the problem is the worst solution.  Finding someone outside of the immediate family to use as a buffer may be helpful.  If the teenager feels comfortable talking with an older cousin, a favorite aunt or uncle or a special teacher it may serve as a mediator.  Threats and angry words or actions seldom solve the problem.  If the teenager is willing to recognize the consequences of their behavior, they may be open to counseling or a drug help program.

Is my teen at risk?

In short, yes. Every single teen is at risk of teenage drug and alcohol abuse. Drugs are more than just marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy: Your prescription medicine, cough syrup and aerosols can all be abused and cause significant damage to your teen. Some teens are at a heightened level of risk for developing drug and alcohol dependency. For instance, teens who are generally more removed and depressed those with a genetic predisposition to addiction, those who do not fit in and those who have fallen in with a bad crowd are all more likely to develop unhealthy relationships with alcohol and drugs.

What should I do?

You cannot watch over your teen 24 hours a day so you do need to check in on them daily. It might be difficult but unless you talk to your teenage son or daughter you cannot start an open discourse with them about their life. Do not wait for them to come to you because they probably will not.

One important thing parents can do is to become familiar with the types and methods of drug taking that is popular among teens. Also, make sure you are aware of the signs of drug taking (mood swings, heightened secrecy and unexplained money spending, for instance).

If you suspect your child is taking drugs or abusing alcohol, you must talk to your teenager. By avoiding the issue, you are only going to make their problems worse. When you talk to them, you must not let their anger, excuses or avoidance control the conversation. Be calm, be in control and be loving. Do not be accusatory or lose your temper. Tell your teenager that more than anything else, they need to know that you love them but you will not tolerate drug use and alcohol abuse. Take control of the situation and get your teen on the path to recovery finding local, professional help.

Some countries do not have a drinking age.  Although the U.S. and Canada have considered this idea, it has been shot down.  Teens in these countries are just unable to control their consumption.  Other countries, such as Italy and France, have no such laws about teen drinking.  As a result, teens grow up around alcohol, so there is no fascination with it.  Tell any teen that they can’t have something, and they are likely to want it even more.  The same holds true for drinking alcohol.  When given the chance, adolescents take advantage of alcohol, to their own detriment.

Sadly, each year, about 5,000 teens die from underage drinking.  1,900 of these deaths are vehicle related, proving how the impaired judgment that teens experience under the influence, really affects those around them too.  What are some ways that parents can help their teens to avoid alcohol? Some parents, unfortunately, don’t take enough interest in the welfare of their teens.  They leave hard liquor, beer and wine out where it is available to their kids.  This can be easily avoided by installing a liquor cabinet with a good lock system.  This is just one way that parents can do help to keep their teenage prescription drug abuse and drinking alcohol.  There is only one case where teen drinking is actually legal, under parental supervision.  This is often a wise idea, much like the way Italy and France (just examples) have a light view of alcohol, parents can convey this attitude as well.  Make your teens see that alcohol is just another beverage, something to be consumed in moderation.  Hopefully they will learn not to overindulge when consuming alcohol as adults.

However, it is important to understand exactly how strong the pull of drug addiction can be for you teenage child, especially if you have never really had to struggle with addiction during the course of your own life. A true addiction is not the same as simply developing an unhealthy habit or a psychological crutch. When an individual is truly addicted to a physical psychoactive substance, their entire metabolism changes so that they simply do not feel normal or healthy without the use of their drug of choice. If you are not familiar with withdrawal symptoms, remembering a nasty alcohol induced hangover is the best way to put yourself in addict’s shoes. What a hangover really are mostly withdrawal symptoms from a hard night of over indulging in alcohol as your body adapts to not having a constant intake of that addictive substance. When a drug addict tries to kick teenagers drug abuse, they go through a similar period of withdrawal symptoms, but withdrawal from certain drugs can be much more taxing on an addict’s mental state. To use another legal analogy, think of how confused and irritable any smoker that you have known became when he or she tried to quit smoking.

Because kicking teenage drug and alcohol abuse can be so taxing and because it young people are so much easier to treat then older addicts, it is often necessary to send your child off for rehabilitation at a special treatment facility to be sure that they are able to move on with their lives drug free. While it feels much more natural to keep you loved one home in your own care and try to treat them on your own, you simply are not equipped to treat a recovering drug addict if you are not a recovered addict with many years of sobriety under your built yourself. It can be scary to leave you fragile teen in another’s care when they are so fragile, but rest assured that a trained teenage prescription drug abuse treatment facility is the best option to get your kid back on track before he or she makes any mistakes that will last the rest of his or her life.

If your teen is having troubles please get help as soon as you can. The teenage drug abuse statistics are already higher than they have ever been. Don’t wait just get help now.

1.      Of course the most significant effect of teenagers drinking is the danger of becoming alcohol dependent as an adult. Studies have shown that teens that use alcohol before they are 15 are four times more likely to become addicted to alcohol than someone who doesn’t start drinking until they are 21.

2.      Forty percent of alcohol-related fatalities form car wrecks involve teens. Drinking and driving is a very serious issue with teenagers who don’t have the experience to even realize that they are too drunk to drive.

3.      We all know that enough alcohol can reduce inhibitions, making teens susceptible to taking risks that they normally would not. With their judgment impairment, there is very likely going to be some unacceptable behavior.

4.      Many people believe that using alcohol encourages teenagers to move onto more serious drugs and maybe even teenagers drug abuse. If they have been drinking for some time without any unusual incidents, they may decide, “Alcohol is no big deal, I might as well try something else”. Teenage drug and alcohol abuse go hand in hand.

5.      Regular alcohol use is sure to effect performance at school. It can cause issues with concentration in school and at home while doing homework. Their relationships with teachers and even their friends at school can be adversely affected by their alcohol use.

6.      There are many health problems associated with drinking: stomach ulcers, heart and liver problems, and malnutrition. These things take a long time to develop, but the teen needs to know that if he or she becomes dependent and continues heavy drinking into adulthood, these things can happen.

7.      More and more research is showing that alcohol can cause harm to the young, developing brain of a teenager.

You have to understand that it only starts with drinking. If you were to look at the teenage drug abuse statistics you would see that the alcohol will most certainly move to bigger things such as teenage prescription drug abuse and other serious drug problems.

Have a supportive talk with your teenager and present to them, with plenty of evidence to back you up, the risks they are taking when they start drinking too young. Also, remember that as a parent, you are the best influence your teenager can have.

As a parent, the concern that your teen may fall into this trap is a serious one. Parents can think about communicating openly and honestly with their children on the issue of drinking. Many teenagers that drink excessively do so because of either their social situations or the fact that it is forbidden. Parents should know who their teen’s friends are and make sure that they do not fall into the “wrong crowd”. Stereotypically, teenagers are known for their rebellious natures. Though this may not be the case for all teens, many enjoy bending rules and do not fully take into consideration the consequences of their actions. One way to prevent your teen from developing drinking problems is to be open about alcohol in your household. Many teen that over imbibe in alcohol do so because of the fresh, new experience. Alcohol is something forbidden, so they become overeager and too excited to restrain themselves. If households are open about alcohol (and the risks involved in over imbibing), teens may very well be less likely to satisfy their curiosity in such an overwhelming manner.

However, in some cases, preventative action is not enough. These times, parents must act quickly, as drinking problems will almost definitely pose even larger threats in the future, even causing brain damage. There are many programs to help with dealing with teenage drinking problems. Teenager’s drug abuse resistance education program, for example, is an international program developed for schools to promote teenage drug and alcohol abuse awareness. Therapists and counselors may also help, as well as support groups. Alcoholics Anonymous is a particularly well-known support group, helping thousands of alcoholics worldwide.

Even if your teen is not experiencing drinking problems, it is still important to communicate with him/her on this issue. You also want to communicate with your children about teenage prescription drug abuse. Some teens that drink, regularly, may develop alcohol dependence later on in life. Having a simple conversation with your teen about alcohol may save them from serious problems later on, and they will thank you for it in the years to come.

For non-life threatening addictions such as a mental or emotional dependency on marijuana or the teenage drug abuse such as Adderal, a trip to the psychologist is probably the best first step.  Also teenage prescription drug abuse can also be a problem. These problems can often be confronted with a combination of cognitive-behavioral therapy and a more disciplined home life.  Individual addictions will need specific treatments, but in general minor problems will not require drastic solutions.

More threatening problems such as cocaine usage could require a more drastic intervention.  Depending on how severe the case is will influence the course of treatment.  For instance, very rare or small usage of cocaine can usually be dealt with by doctor intervention.  However, cocaine or alcohol addiction that are severely inhibiting social functioning and posing health risks might require some type of institutionalization.

Although involuntary commitment at a mental hospital is possible with a judge’s order, this is often not the best first step.  There are a number of closely monitored rehabilitation clinics around the country that welcome teens into their therapy.  The best ones, particularly with teenagers, will keep patients entirely on whatever campus is being used, at least for the early stages.  It is important to establish a rhythm to life that doesn’t involve drugs or behaviors that triggers behaviors that have enabled the addiction.

Once an addiction gets completely out of control, parents might start considering drastic measures.  Institution or other involuntary confinement should only be used as a last resort.  Most mental hospitals will hold a patient for three day observational period to determine whether they’re a threat to themselves or others.  Most addiction programs however are voluntary.  Speak with family physicians before considering this option as taking a child out of school for extended periods with no set release date could be extremely detrimental to them.  However, if it is the only way to save their lives, it is a necessary evil.