Substance use can be a very difficult and scary issue for parents of teenagers. As we know, adolescence is a time during which teens take risks, experiment and try to grow up quickly. Unfortunately, experimenting with alcohol and drugs sometimes is part of this stage of development. I have worked with and treated many teens who have struggled with substance use catching it early makes a significant difference in the treatment process. While there is no specific criteria to determine what teens will experiment with and use alcohol or drugs, there are a few things we do know:
Kids who begin using alcohol or drugs at a young age are more likely to become addicted and develop long term substance abuse related issues (the younger the experimentation begins the greater the risk).
Kids who come from families where one or both parents abuse alcohol or drugs are more likely to abuse substances themselves.
Kids who are depressed are more likely to use substances as a means of self medicating
Kids who feel they don't fit in with the mainstream are more likely to use and become addicted to drugs or alcohol.
A common concern for parents is how to figure out if their teen's use is experimentation or if their teen is abusing substances. We can think about the progression of use in stages which can help you identify how prevalent your teen's use is.
Stage 1: Experimental Use
Alcohol and Drug Intake:
Occasional beer-drinking, pot-smoking, or use of inhalants. Usually done on weekends or during the summer and is usually with friends.
Easy to get high (low tolerance)
Thrill of acting grown up and defying parents is part of the high
What You May Notice:
Often unplanned, beer snuck out from home
Little use of "harder drugs"
Stage 2: More Regular Use
Alcohol and Drug Intake:
Increased use and tolerance. More parties involving drugs and alcohol.
Acceptance of the idea that "everyone does it"
Staying out later, going out more
Use of wine or liquor may increase but beer is usually still most popular drink
Willing to suffer hangovers
Use on week nights may begin along w/ school skipping
Blackouts may begin
May start drinking alone and planning day around using
What You May Notice:
More money spent, Fake ID's, Buying alcohol or pot
You become aware or suspicious start grounding and punishing
Drug-using friends are not introduced to you lying increases
School activities dropped, grades drop, truancy increases
Non drug using friends are dropped
May stay out all weekend
Stage 3: Daily Preoccupation
Alcohol and Drug Intake:
Use of harder drugs increases
Number of times high during the week increases
Amount of money spent on drugs increases
"Social use" decreases getting very intoxicated rather than just buzzed or high
Possible theft to get money for drugs
Solitary use increases
What the You May Notice:
Possible dealing or selling
Possible court trouble
May try to cut down or quit
Most straight friends are dropped. More truancy and fights with you about drug use
Money owed for drugs increases
Stage 4: Dependency
Alcohol and Drug Intake:
Getting high during school or at work
Difficult to face the day without drugs
Drugs used to escape self
May use injectable drugs
Friends are burnouts
Can't tell what normal behavior is anymore
Physical condition worsens loss of weight, more frequent illness, memory suffers, thoughts of suicide
What You May Notice:
Guilt feelings increase. Questioning own use but cannot control the urges
Low self-image and self hate
Casual Sexual involvement
School dropped
You may want to "give up"
Paranoia increases
Total loss of control over use
It is important to get your child professional help if you think their use is anything beyond curiosity and light experimentation. If they are in the experimentation stage, professionals may also be of assistance, however, education and supervision by parents are essential in preventing teens from progressing in their substance use. As a parent, being involved, providing regular supervision and providing education about substance abuse to your teenager will make a different! You will be tuned into the warning signs and be able to address them quickly before your teenagers use spirals out of control. If their use has spun out of control already, there is help out there and the sooner they get it the better off they will be in the long run.
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Article added to SearchWarp.com on Saturday, October 04, 2008 View other articles written by Karen Vincent(1,282)
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