Teen Substance Abuse

Teen Substance Abuse is one of the primary killers of teens today.

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It's hard to deal with the thought of your teen abusing drugs and alcohol, but if you find that you are dealing with a troubled teen, who seems less like the child you know and more like a stranger, it could be that they are abusing drugs or alcohol or both. How do you know if your child is at risk and what should you do if you think your teen is using drugs or alcohol?

This is such an extensive topic, that I have thought for days on the best way to approach it. So, I am going to break it down for you. You will find more information than you even dreamed existed on drugs and alcohol. I will give you facts and tips on drug and alcohol abuse, and cover every single drug in detail. I will also provide you with a guideline on each drug so that you can watch for the warning signs.

Although these are some scary statistics, as a parent, you need to be aware of them.

As of 8th grade, 30% of teens will have tried drugs and over half have tried alcohol and smoking.

As of 10th grade, 45% of teens will have tried drugs and over half have tried alcohol and smoking.

As of 12th grade, 53% of teens will have tried drugs and over half have tried alcohol and smoking.

When you think of drug abuse, you most commonly think of marijuana, alcohol or cocaine. But, todayteenagers are abusing prescription drugs, which are easier to come by, as most of them are in your medicine cabinets. Another drug that is being abused and is easy to get are inhalants. These can be found under your kitchen sink. And, then you have the Club Drugs (MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB, Rohypnol, Ketamine, Methamphetamine, and LSD), cocaine and heroin. We also can't forget steroids and smoking cigarettes.

Teens use drugs and alcohol for many reasons. Boredom, stress relief, peer pressure, curiosity and because it feels good to them; to name a few. The side effects of drug and alcohol abuse are very serious though, and most teens are not aware of them. There is an increased risk of serious drug use later in life, school failure, and poor judgmentwhich may put teens at risk for accidents, violence, unplanned and unsafe sex, and suicide.

Here are some of the factors that can increase a teen's probability of having a drug or alcohol problem:

Family history of substance abuse

Depression

Low self esteem

Lack of peers

There are also some specific signs that a parent can look for if they suspect their teen is abusing drugs or alcohol.

Fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and glazed eyes, and a lasting cough.

Personality change, sudden mood changes, irritability, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, poor judgment, depression, and a general lack of interest in everyday activities.

Starting arguments, breaking rules, or withdrawing from the family.

Decreased interest, negative attitude, drop in grades, many absences, truancy, and discipline problems in school.

New friends who are less interested in standard home and school activities, problems with the law, and changes to less conventional styles in dress and music.

Before you panic, it is also important to know that education is always the key to success. Parents that talk to their teens openly about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse are 42% less likely to use drugs. Sadly, not enough parents talk to their children. Make this a priority. Alcohol abuse and drinking and driving is one of the highest killers of teens today. No matter how hard a conversation about this may be, it is imperative to have it. I will also give you hints and tips on how to talk to your teen in a way that is non accusatory.

So, with all of this, I am going to present you with a ton of information about the drugs, what they do to your child, where they get them from, how to stop it and how to recognize if your teen is doing any of them and resources on where to seek help.

This is an important section of the site, which will be added to often. We have to save our children, and hopefully, this part of My Parenting Portal will educate you so that you can educate your teen and raise the percentage of teens that are listening to their parents.

check out the Drugs and Alcohol swicki at eurekster.com

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