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.

*Alcohol is the most common drug used by teens.
*Teens who come from families where drug use is present are more likely to use drugs.
*Teenage drug use drastically affects growth and development.
*Teens who are friends with drug users are more likely to use drugs.

It’s important to keep teens safe from drugs, as drug use can negatively affect their education, their emotional well being, their health and also because the younger a person is when they begin using drugs, the higher their tendency toward addiction. Keeping teens safe now lays the groundwork for a healthy, drug-free life.

So, how can drug use be prevented? It’s important to remain an active role model in your teenage son or daughter’s life – teens who feel they have family support are not as likely to become involved in teen drug use. It’s also crucial to openly discuss the risks of the teens drugs used. Many parents assume that their kids know that drug use is bad and that their kids know they would disapprove of it – don’t assume! Talk with your teen about drugs. Make it very clear that you are against teen drug use. Discuss why drugs are so harmful as well as how to say no when they are offered drugs.

If you feel that your child may already be involved in teen drug use, you need to take action right away. It is important to understand teens and drugs. Some signs and symptoms of teen drug addiction include:

*Teens coming home and going straight to their bedroom.
*Declining grades.
*Poor hygiene and lack of proper grooming.
*Sudden weight loss or weight gain.
*Change in social life – new friends, new clothes and a new attitude.
*Strange mood patterns.
*Strange sleeping habits.

If you find that your teen is in fact using drugs, you need to take action right away. Talk with your teen about getting them the help they need. Many teens may become angry, but you need to be authoritative and take control of the situation whether they are willing to seek help or not. Teen drug use is not something to be taken lightly and as a parent, getting them the teen drug addiction help they need is the most loving, responsible thing you can do.