Teen drug abuse is nationally a huge problem from young teens to adults. Teens that drink are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teens who never consume alcohol. Teens whose parents talk to them on a regular basis about the dangers of drug use are 42% less likely to use drugs than those whose parents don't.
There have been many discussions on what causes teens to start abusing drugs. Four of these are peer pressure, a hard home life, teens not being educated at home on the dangers of it, or one or both parents may be using drugs at home.
SIGNS THAT YOUR TEEN COULD BE ABUSING DRUGS:
- Dilated pupils.
- Unexplained mood swings from overly laughing for no reason at all to being destructive.
- Rebellion.
- Being argumentative.
- Being verbally abusive to you.
- Paranoia.
- Confusion and forgetfulness.
- Many lies.
- Making excuses.
- Nervousness.
- Irritability.
- Changing friends.
- Changes in appearance (from what they wear, to how they take care of themselves).
- Disrespect for parents and their rules.
- Doesn't care about school activities anymore.
- Grades at school start dropping.
- Not caring about homework anymore when they did before.
- Missing items of value around the house.
- A drunken stupor.
- Running away.
- Missing school (to go with other teens to do drugs).
- Finding drugs, cigarette paper rolls (used to roll up marijuana) or pipes (to smoke marijuana) in their room.
- Finding syringes in their room (intravenous drug use).
- Headaches/nausea.
- Tremors.
- Coughing (marijuana).
- Sniffing (marijuana or cocaine).
- Red or glassy eyes (drugs or alcohol).
- Smell of marijuana or alcohol on their clothes.
- Staying out all night.
- Not wanting to anything with you anymore.
WHAT PARENTS SHOULD DO IF THEY SUSPECT THEIR TEEN IS ABUSING DRUGS:
- Talk to your teen if you suspect or find that they are abusing drugs.
- Call a counselor and get help as soon as possible.
- Call your local crisis center and they can lead you in the right direction to get help.
- If you are going through episodes of destructiveness with your teen, or your teen threatens their own life or someone else's life, call 911.
Teens can be very sly when it comes to finding ways to get out of the house to get to a friend's house or out with friends who use drugs. Below are just a few little tricks they use.
- Teens will say they are getting off the bus to stay overnight at a friend's house who does not use drugs, but then after school lets out, they will get off the bus to stay overnight at a friend's house who uses drugs so they can, too. My suggestion is to call that friend's parents to make sure your teen did get there safely.
- Teens will run away after school and not come home because they want to stay with friends who use drugs. And they won't call you and let you know where they are. My suggestion is to call other friends of your teens and ask them if anyone knows where they are. If no one knows, you may have to call the police.
- Teens who are in activities may miss their activities just to go with friends who use drugs.
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO IF THEY SUSPECT THEIR TEEN IS ABUSING DRUGS:
- Teach your children and teens about the dangers of using drugs and alcohol.
- Teach your teens how to handle peer pressure.
- Keep communication with your teen open.
- Let your teen know that you are always there to talk when they need to.
COMPLICATIONS AND CONSEQUENCES OF DRUG ABUSE:
- Addiction.
- Problems with the law.
- Suicides.
- Car crashes.
- And sometimes an unplanned pregnancy.
Teen drug abuse not only hurts the teen himself, but also devastates a family. It can be one of the most difficult things a family can go through. Many teens who get help can overcome drug abuse. Other teens can remain addicted, especially if they don't get help. But, if you raise your teen with a good foundation and with their feet planted to the ground, sooner or later they will come back to you and be the person they used to be.
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