Is Your Teen at Risk of Drug Addiction?

The National Institute on Drug Abuse found in their 2005 Monitoring the Future Survey that there was an approximately 19% decline over the last four years in any illicit drug use in the past month by students in the eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades combined. For parents, this is encouraging news, but teens are still trying drugs. They can be tempted to try drugs for a variety of reasons including peer pressure, stress, and dangerous curiosity. So, how can a parent tell if their teen is likely to take drugs?

Common warning signs of drug abuse in teens are:

• Mood swings and unpredictable behavior
• Increased sensitivity
• Increased forgetfulness
• Not sleeping well or feeling tired all the time
• Problems at school

Individually, these things can be typical teenage behavior brought on by social activities, hormonal changes, or stress. However, if several of these symptoms are noticed with increased frequency, parents should seek further help from a trained professional.

Physical and emotional signs

Parents can start by looking for physical and emotional change patterns in their teen. There may be sudden weight gain or loss. She may stop caring about the way she looks. Your teen may seem depressed or confused. As a parent, it is easy to see when your teen is not as happy and cheerful as they usually are. Teens may start being rebellious and argumentative. He may start asking for money more often. There could also be a change in your teen's circle of friends. When you start seeing these changes, you should try to become more involved with your teen. Ask them about their day at school, or try to find activities that you can do together.

You may also notice that your teen is coming home late and spending more time alone in his room. Parents also need to worry if their teen starts being more secretive about where he has been and what he's been doing while out with friends. She may no longer enjoy playing her favorite games. Sometimes your teen may have slurred speech or blood-shot eyes. If your teen withdraws from responsibilities, pays no attention to family rules, and does not interact with siblings, take this as a sign that your teen needs your help. Try to find out if they are involved with drugs or if there is another source of stress that is causing them to change their behavior.

When your teen's friends are doing drugs

Teens are most influenced day to day by their friends. Typically, they spend more time with their friends than they do with their family. If you find out that one of your teen's friends is doing drugs, you should talk to your teen about it. Have an honest conversation with them about their friend's activities. Don't be negative or accusatory. Your teen will be more likely to tell you the truth if you are calm and level headed. You may find out that your teen doesn't know about their friend's habit. If they do know, they may not approve and will be relieved that they can talk to you about it. The outcome of this conversation should be that your teen does not interact with this particular friend until they are clean. Explain to your teen that you don't want them in an environment where there are drugs. Give them alternative choices and suggest other activities that they can do to replace the time they spent with this friend. Your teen may find this very difficult, but with your understanding and support, they are more like to do the right thing.

Problems at school

You may find out that your teen is:

• Not regularly attending school,
• They aren't paying attention or sleeping in class,
• They have stopped participating in their extracurricular activities, and
• Their grades have started slipping.

To hide these changes from you, your teen might try to hide information about school open houses or parent/teacher conferences. Several parents are surprised by the information that they receive about their teen's activities at school, because of their teen's ability to hide the truth. One way to combat this problem is getting to know the teachers and administrators at your teen's school. This way they will feel comfortable telling you that there is a problem, and, if necessary, you can talk to them about your concerns for your teen.

If you see these behaviors in your teen often, or if the incidents are starting to increase, it's time to act. Consulting a physician to rule out physical causes of the warning signs is a good first step. You can also try looking for vials, cigarette papers, pipes, and other drug paraphernalia. If you find evidence of drug abuse, or if you smell alcohol or drugs on your teen, you should talk to them. Don't yell, lecture, or accuse them. Express your concerns, ask for their honesty, and restrain your emotions. The problem here is not your teen. The problem is the drug abuse, and it will be easier to overcome if you work together.

Keep in mind, what your teen needs is parental warmth and support during the turbulent period of adolescence. An effective way for parents to show their care and concern is to openly discuss the use of alcohol and other drugs with their teenager. If necessary, parents should not hesitate to seek professional help for education and counseling.

Fast Facts About Adolescents

The risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16- to 19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are four times more likely than older drivers to crash.

EXCEL Academy
EXCEL Academy is a recovery-focused college prep boarding school for troubled teens in Texas. If your teen would benefit from a sober boarding high school environment and a strong culture of recovery from substance abuse, then call 866-858-4883 to learn more about EXCEL Academy.

SunHawk Academy
SunHawk Academy provides a residential treatment program for teens in a boarding school environment. SunHawk Academy offers help for troubled teens that are facing emotional problems, family issues, adolescent substance abuse, and academic difficulties. Each student at the Academy progresses through various levels, until they reach graduation. The levels have been designed to help the students measure their progress and achieve specific goals, including Academics, Substance Abuse recovery, Therapy and Leadership abilities. Learn more about SunHawk Academy by calling toll free 866-858-4883.