Drug Dependency and Teenagers
It is no secret that drug addiction is a horrible scourge in our community, and the mounting number of addicted teens is surely the most dreadful aspect of it.
Drugs alter a teen's body in distinct ways.
Plus when people are becoming addicted as teenagers, it's going to be much more complex to maintain a clean and sober way of life as they become more mature.
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, nearly 35 percent have experimented with drugs. In some areas, the sum of persons who develop a habitual drug habit in their teens is as high as 20 percent!
Teenagers are also more likely to degenerate from drug use to drug addiction because of their life surroundings. Many teens get overwhelmed by the everyday struggles of life. They have low self-esteem, experience common adolescent stresses, and find that they can't express their feelings. They feel that they lack control over their existence. All of these impact greatly to increasing drug use and eventually drug addiction.
Drugs kill the pain of a stressful or dull life. They destroy physical and mental pain by changing the addict's experience of the world they live in. Drugs make the addicted individual numb to the pain, despair, or isolation that they feel encompasses their life.
Do you feel your teenager has a drug addiction? Some of the more common signs of drug addiction in teens include:
- Dramatic changes in behavior
- Dull, glassy eyes
- Excessive tiredness
- Failing in university
- Lying or thieving
- Isolation or loss of fulfillment in activities
What do you do when you suspect your teen is struggling with a drug problem?
Firstly, trust your intuitions. If you feel there is a addiction, there probably is. Find a safe time when you can talk freely with your teenager and be honest with them about your concerns. Try to be open-minded regarding what they are revealing to you and be sympathetic to their perception of their struggles. Tell your teen what you are feeling about their drug addiction.
You are probably afraid regarding what might happen to your teenager. Try not to be too negative or incensed: this will only cause them to shut down and back away. You can also talk about personal observations or experiences you might have had with drugs. While you may be hesitant to do this, it will make you more human in your teenager's eyes.
Often, those nearest to the teen (ie. the parents) find it easir to deny that their teen has a drug addiction. Parents can't afford to do this. On the contrary, if you, as a parent, honestly love your child, it is important that you get them help as soon as possible. Don't give up, and try not to be too disappointed if your initial attempts fail. Eventually, you will get through this and then you and your teenager can start taking on drug addiction together.
For more information on Drug Dependency and Teenagers visit http://www.addictiontodrugs.org