Behavior & Discipline

How To Deal With Teen’s Drug Problem

Drug abuse teen

How To Deal With Teen Drug Problem

 

Everything starts with a few ‘ harmless weed puffs. ‘ Or at some party a teeny – weeny bit of ‘ ecstasy. ‘ And from there, unless you intervene, it’s usually downhill.

Teenagers enjoy experimenting. And when they’re in high school, one of the things they want to try is drugs. According to the UN, illegal drug use is initiated in adolescence

 

What Is Drug Abuse?

 

A medicine that you use to treat a medical condition may be a prescription medicine. A drug may also be an illegal drug like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin.

It is called drug abuse when a person becomes accustomed to taking illegal drugs. Drug abuse is a recurring brain disease that leads to compulsive drug use, irrespective of the adverse effects. Drug abuse occurs when someone is:

  • Continues to use prescription medication on a regular basis, long after it was supposed to stop using it. Examples of abuse include the use of fake prescriptions to obtain painkillers or the use of drugs intended for someone else.
  • Purchases for personal use illicit drugs or drugs such as marijuana, cocaine, ecstasy and other synthetic drugs.
  • Is reliant on prescription drugs to perform regularly.
  • Shows symptoms of withdrawal after stopping the use of the drug.
  • Use more than the prescribed drug dosage.
  • It’s under the influence of illegal drugs almost always.

Excessive drug use has negative effects, leading to long – term harmful behavior.

 

Why Do Adolescents Take Drugs?

 

All teenagers like socializing, fitting in, and going to parties. But not all of them are doing drugs, although most of them are drinking and others are smoking. So why are teenagers taking drugs? Here are some reasons for drug abuse by a teen.

1.  To fit in

Perhaps the top cause of drug abuse among adolescents is fitting in peer pressure. The need for an adolescent to fit in, to belong to a specific group, and the need to be cool in the group like the others can push them to take drugs.

2. To Get high

Because of the excess dopamine and other’ feel good’ hormones released by the brain, when a teenager takes an addictive drug, he or she experiences a’ high.’ Teenagers tend to take more medication to repeat the’ high’ feeling and become addicted to it.

3. Because it’s cool

Being a drug addict isn’t cool at all. But some teens think drinking, getting drunk, and smoking is cool. Such misunderstandings are often caused by peer pressure and negative effects from mainstream media, in which famous or influential people use drugs. 

4. To Experiment

Teenagers are a lot of curious and want to try something new almost always. That is why teenage years are the time when most people are introduced to the world of alcohol and drugs! Most teenagers want to try to get drugs high and continue to use drugs if they like them. They are addicted to the substance before they know it, and they have no control over themselves. 

5. Escape pain

Drug abuse often results from pain, whether physical or emotional. If your child is suffering from physical pain, it can become dependent on painkillers, leading to abuse. Drugs are also used to deal with household problems, parental conflict or domestic abuse, sexual abuse, or bullying. Some adolescents who have depression, anxiety disorders and other stress-related disorders tend to take medication 

 6. To impress someone

Teenagers who try to impress the opposite – sex member may lean to drink and take drugs. Teenage boys sometimes take more drugs or drink than they can contain to impress somebody. For them, to handle something strong like alcohol or narcotics could be about being ‘ man enough. ‘

7. Rebellion

Teens take drugs to harm and anger their parents. It can be an attempt at teaching parents a lesson on a one – time basis, but they are dependent on the feeling of ‘ high ‘ before teens know this.

Whatever the reason for taking drugs, teenagers beginning to use illicit drugs early are more likely to become addicts as adults. In more ways than one, drug addiction is dangerous.

 

Dangers Of Drug Abuse Among Teens

 

Excess drug use can only adversely affect the overall well – being of the individual. Drug misuse leads to long – term physical and mental health problems. Adolescent drug abuse hazards include:

1. Poor cognitive development

Teenagers are a time of physical and intellectual change. In such a vulnerable age, excessive use of illicit drugs can have a detrimental effect on the brain and can disrupt the ability of the teen to function normally. Drug abuse may interfere with brain and brain connections, bring harmful and unhealthy habits into the brain and inhibit the child’s perceptive ability to develop. drug abuse can prevent brain growth. Drug abuse also reduces the ability of the person to experience pleasure and affects memory.

2. Addiction and dependency

Repeated use of drugs by adolescents can lead to dependence and addiction. Using certain medicines can activate the brain’s reward center. When this happens over and over, the response of the brain to the drug changes, preventing the person from exercising control over the urge to take the drug. While it is true that some people become more vulnerable to addiction than others, studies have shown that people are more likely to become addicts when they start taking medicines early in life. Genetics, environmental factors, stress, physical trauma or abuse and other factors may also contribute to adolescent drug addiction. 

3. Emotional problems

Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety disorders, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, and schizophrenia are masked by excessive use of drugs. A study showed a link between symptoms of depression and the onset of drug use among young people.

4. Physiological changes

The abuse of teen drugs may increase the risk of disease, stroke, and heart disease. Some drugs may be used repeatedly to make calcium oxidation that may break the bones.

5. Risky sexual behavior

Drugs like LSD, ecstasy, and other sedatives and hallucinogens can change the perception of the person. They also induce sleep and frequently prevent the teenager from thinking about the consequences. Teenagers who take medication are at increased risk for sexually transmitted (STD) diseases, which may lead to infertility as well as HIV. 

Teenager Girls are at risk of early pregnancy and sexual abuse, particularly in parties that are supplied with Rohypnol.

 

Signs Of Teen Drug Abuse

 

A teenager may not be out of the ordinary when taking drugs occasionally or once in a blue moon. But if the teen abused drugs, there are definite signs of the problem. Some of the common signs include

  • bloodshot eyes
  • loss of interest in activities
  • Physical inactivity
  • Dilated pupils
  • poor hygiene and diminished person appearance. 

 

Treatment And Rehabilitation Of Drug Abuse

 

Drug addiction and dependence is a disease that can be treated with timely rehabilitation and intervention. The extent of therapy depends on how far the drugs have changed the brain of the teen. Depending on the response to the treatment, the time taken to get out of addiction varies from person to person. 

Successful drug addiction therapy focuses on:

  • Detoxification – a process which removes from the body all traces of the drug
  • Counseling of behavior
  • In cases of opioid abuse, medications
  • Treatment of any mental or behavioral disorders that co-occur
  • Long – term monitoring of the teen and prevention of recurrence

Remember that for drug addiction and dependence there is no one – size – fits – all treatment.

 

Prevention Of Drug Abuse In Adolescents

 

It is all about commitment to parenting. And with much love and compassion, that commitment is all you need to help your child stay away from drugs and lead a healthy life. Continue to read to know how.

  • Teach the child how to say NO! The teenager is most often driven to try drugs by peer pressure. Fear of friends ‘ negative reactions or criticism and the idea that’ taking drugs is cool’ or’ everybody does it, so why shouldn’t I? Can be the guilty of pushing this habit on the teen. Teach your teen not to be influenced by peers to make his or her own decisions. 
  • Look out for your teen’s friendly circle. Help them choose their friends wisely and encourage them to express their opinions or opinions freely. If they are in a group where everyone drinks or consumes drugs, you might want to encourage teens to make some new friends.
  • If you think your teen uses drugs, learn about and watch out for the signs of drug addiction. Do not assume that your family is not going to do it. Young people are vulnerable and can turn to drugs and alcohol under some pressure. 

If you suspect your teenager is beginning to take drugs, talk to them. You may even want random drug tests to be included to know if they are taking drugs. This also allows you to act immediately before it gets bigger and eliminate the problem.

Drug addiction is one of the most dangerous issues facing young people today. As a parent, from this evil, you can save them. All you need to do is be vigilant as the child enters adolescence and guides him or her through adolescence. Converse with them, hold your hand as soon as they need you and be the best parent to support. It would only make things worse to criticize or punish them for using drugs. But you can turn the tide into a little love and understanding.

Also Read: Know How To Be A Good Parent

 

 

 

 

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