Parent's Assistant: Resources for Stopping Teen Drug Addiction

For several decades now, there has been a war against illegal drugs in the United States, with the federal and state governments, religious bodies, healthcare providers, non-profit organizations, and more fighting to warn the public about the dangers of drugs and to prevent addiction. This war has been successful in some ways; nevertheless, drug addiction remains a significant problem in the country. Parents must face this reality on a daily basis, for if their teenage sons or daughters are not taking drugs, the chances are good that their children have friends that are addicted. These friends can influence their peers, and even kids from functional families can end up having problems with drugs.

The Problem of Addiction

The most commonly abused drugs are marijuana and alcohol, which also tend to be those drugs that most people are worried least about because they believe them not to have many enduring physical consequences when they are taken in moderation. Yet when teens are exposed to these drugs, the effect can last a lifetime. It is reported, for example, that those who start drinking before they reach age 15 are four times more likely to become dependent on alcohol than those who do not drink until they reach the legal age of 21. In fact, the longer drinking can be delayed, the better. There is a 14 percent lower probability that a teenager will become alcohol dependent for each year they delay drinking between ages 15 and 21.

The facts for Marijuana are also discouraging. Studies have found that smoking marijuana affects the entire body. It even produces changes in the brains of teenagers that are like those seen when teens partake of alcohol, heroin, or cocaine. The marijuana today is also much stronger than that of yesteryear, almost 25 times more potent than the marijuana smoked decades ago. There are more teens being treated for marijuana addiction than every other illicit drug combined.

Unfortunately, the problems with addiction are not only related to substances that are illegal for teens like marijuana and alcohol. Ten percent of teens abuse cough medicine in order to get high, and twenty percent of teenagers have tried to get the same effect using prescription medications.

The problem of drug addiction is also not gender specific. According to White House, there are more girls smoking and abusing prescribed medications than boys, and they are also consuming marijuana and alcohol at a greater rate.

Addiction Warning Signs

This information clearly demonstrates that teenage drug abuse is not an isolated problem, and every family is at risk to one degree or another. Alert parents need to be on the lookout for warning signs of addiction in their teens in order to be prepared to help them if necessary. Such warning signs include the neglect of responsibilities, excessive risk taking, difficulties with family and friend relationships, and legal problems. If one or more of these are occurring, parents need to be at least open to the fact that their kid is abusing drugs and take the steps to verify whether or not an addiction is really there.

What Parents Can Do

If a parent has good reason to suspect a drug addiction, then they will want to confront their child. Should the child deny having a problem with drugs, parents can suggest that they go to the doctor or local employment drug-screening centers for a drug test. If they refuse a test, parents can be all but certain that their child has a problem.

In the event of an addiction, parents should do what they can to help their child overcome it. It is important that parents express both disapproval and loving concern, making it clear that drug abuse is not a good thing but that they will be there with their child to make sure the problem is solved. This is fine line to walk, and it means that punishment is probably not going to be the immediately effective response to drug abuse.

Most importantly, parents should do what they can to stop abuse before it happens. They should not be in denial if they have reason to suspect an addiction. Nor should they leave prescription medicines or large quantities of alcohol where teenagers can get to them when they are home alone. Parents can be liable for teenage alcohol consumption in most states even if they are not at home when the alcohol is abused.

Talking regularly with their kids about drugs is another important way to prevent an addiction from occurring. Aside from warning them about drugs, parents should make it clear that they can be approached if the child is addicted or knows someone who is. Parents should also emphasize the risks of addiction, for while 90% of parents say they have talked about drugs with their kids, only less than a third of teens report that they have heard about the risks of drugs and addiction from mom and dad.

For more information on teenage addiction and recovery, please consult the following sources:

• Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Abuse — Colorado State University provides this fact sheet on teen drug abuse facts and treatment.

• Al-Anon/Alateen — This renowned companion program to the famous 12-step self-help programs designed for addicts is geared to help friends and relatives of drug-addicted teens deal with their own feelings about the problem.

• Center for Treatment Research on Adolescent Drug Abuse — This center associated with the Miller School of Medicine at the University of Miami is a research outfit that provides resources on teen drug addiction.

• Check Yourself — Check Yourself is a page sponsored for the Partnership for the Drug-Free America that helps teenagers determine whether or not they are addicted to drugs.

• D.A.R.E. — D.A.R.E. is a national program designed to teach kids and teens to resist drug abuse.

• Drug Strategies: Teen Drug Addiction — This page has an article describing professional teen drug abuse rehabilitation centers, with links to 12-step meetings, rehabilitation providers, and more.

• Drugs: What You Should Know — This TeensHealth page has some great information on drugs for teenagers, with data for parents as well.

• Family First Aid — A variety of teen issues, including eating disorders and drug addictions, are covered on this site.

• Locking the Gateway — A parent advocate who had to deal with drug problems with her own teens has created this helpful overview site for parents to inform them about addiction signs, the danger of gateway drugs, and more.

• Medicinenet: Teen Drug Abuse — This page that is affiliated with the well-known WebMD website has a lot of data on teen drug abuse and treatment.

• Narcotics Anonymous — Narcotics Anonymous is a 12-step program designed to help addicts overcome their addiction to drugs.

• NIDA: Parents and Teachers — This page from the National Institute on Drug Abuse contains facts about teen drug addiction and ways to help addicted teens.

• ONDCP — The Office of National Drug Control Policy is an arm of the White House that provides resources on drug addiction in both teens and the wider society.

• Parents: The Anti-Drug — As this informative site reveals, parental involvement is one of the best ways to prevent kids from getting into illegal drugs.

• PDFA: Parents — On this page of The Partnership for a Drug-Free America’s website, parents can find all sorts of tools to learn about drug addiction and help kids with a drug problem.

• Pros and Cons of Teen Drug Abuse Group Therapy — Time magazine published this article in June 2010 on the possible problems associated with treating all teenage drug users the same way.

• SAMHSA Family Guide — The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in the United States Department of Health and Human Services sponsors this page on how families can identify and help teens with drug addiction.

• Teenage Addictions — Here is a good overview page with facts on teen drug addictions and treatment from Maricopa University.

• Teen Drug Abuse — Parents can find information on ten drug addiction and contact a local drug rehab center for teens via this source.

• TeenZeen — TeenZeen seeks to assist teenagers and parents with its resources and information that deals with teen alcohol and drug issues.