Drug Abuse And Teenage Children

It is no secret that drug abuse is a horrible scourge in our community, and the mounting numbers of addicted teens is surely the most depressing feature of it.

Drugs affect a teen's body in unique ways. Plus when people are becoming addicted as teenagers, it's going to be much more difficult to maintain a clean and sober life as they become adults.

Young folks in our community are being aquainted with drugs at an increasingly young age. Studies show that by the time children get into 8th grade, approximately 35 percent have tried drugs. In some areas, the sum of persons who acquire a regular drug habit in their teens is as high as 20 percent!

Teenagers are also more susceptible to move from drug use to drug addiction because of their life conditions. Many teens get overcome by the normal struggles of life. They have low self-esteem, experience common teenage worries, and find that they can't express their feelings. They feel that they lack control over their lives. All of these contribute greatly to increasing drug use and eventually drug addiction.

Drugs kill the pain of a painful or monotonous life. They destroy physical and emotional pain by altering the user's experience of reality. Drugs make the addicted being numb to the pain, despondency, or loneliness that they feel characterises their life.

Do you suspect your teenager has a drug addiction? Some of the more common indicators of drug addiction in teens include:

Dramatic changes in conduct

Dull, glassy eyes

Excessive tiredness

Failing in school

Lying or stealing

Isolation or loss of fulfillment in activities

What do you do when you feel your teenager is struggling with a drug addiction?

Firstly, listen to your gut instinct. If you feel there is a problem, there probably is. Find a safe time when you can talk freely with your child and be straightforward with them regarding your concerns. Try to be open-minded about what they are telling you and be sympathetic to their perception of their difficulties. Tell your teen what you are feeling about their drug addiction.

You are probably afraid regarding what might happen to your teen. Try not to be too negative or angry: this will only cause them to shut down and back away. You can also talk about personal opinions or experiences you might have had with drugs. While you may be hesitant to do this, it will make you more real in your teen's eyes.

Often, those closest to the teen (ie. the parents) find it easir to deny that their little one has a drug problem. Parents cannot afford to do this. On the contrary, if you, as a parent, sincerely love your teenager, it is crucial that you get them help as soon as possible. Don't give up, and try not to be discouraged if your initial attempts fail. Eventually, you will get through this and then you and your teenager can begin taking on drug addiction as a team.