Teens and Drug Addiction
Drug addiction is a difficult subject for parents and teens alike. Everyone knows the temptation is out there. No matter how small of a town you live in, your teen probably knows someone who can get drugs. Parents remember what it was like to be young, feeling invincible and wanting to experiment with things. But there's a fine line between teenage curiosity and real problems.
Statistics About Teens and Drug Addiction
While it's difficult to determine exactly how many teens are addicted to drugs, addiction is a real danger for every teen who experiments with drugs, including alcohol. A 2009 federal report shows the following statistics regarding youth (ages 12 to 17) drug and alcohol use.
- Alcohol: 74 percent of all high school students have consumed alcohol.
- Cigarettes: 44 percent of students have tried cigarettes by 12th grade.
- Marijuana: The report showed marijuna usage at 6.7 percent.
- Halucinogens: The hallucinogen use rate among teens was 1 percent.
Any teen that is doing drugs or using alcohol has the potential for addiction, just like any adult does. And youth offers no protection. The average drug user starts smoking marijuana at age 14, and those who abuse alcohol may begin as early as age 12.
Signs of Teen Drug Addiction
It is important for both teens and adults to know about the signs of drug addiction so they can watch out for them in people they know. There is a whole range of physical, emotional, social, home, and family issues that can signal a drug problem.
Here are some of the potential signs of a teen with a drug problem:
- Long-lasting fatigue
- Regular health complaints
- Red eyes
- Sudden personality or mood changes
- Irritability
- Irresponsible behavior
- Lack of interest in activities
- Starting arguments with family
- Breaking rules
- Secretiveness and withdrawing from family
- Decreased interest in school
- Lots of absences or discipline problems
- Drop in grades
- New friends who make poor decisions or aren't interested in school
- Trouble with the law
- Change in clothing or music preferences
A lot of these "symptoms" sound like a teenager just being a teenager, and many are also signs of depression. It is important to note that just because your teen (or a friend) is exhibiting some of these changes, it does not automatically mean he is on drugs.
Treatment
The most important thing parents and friends can do is try to keep the lines of communication open and encourage teens to talk about anything that they are experiencing. It's important not to storm into the teen's room and start going through his or her clothes (at least while your teen is in the room) or dragging the teen off to the doctor for a blood test on suspicion drug use.
If you approach the situation with calmness and love first, odds are your teen will be a much more willing participant in treatment. Boot camps, military schools and boarding school are all options for discipline problems, but drug treatment programs that are close to home are a better first step.
Treatment options vary widely, and individualized plans are necessary for success. Usually medical intervention is combined with psychological counseling, group therapy, and other treatments.
Helpful Resources
There are many great resources on the Internet that can give you more information about teens and drug addiction, warning signs and treatment options:
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