Information on Adolescent Substance Abuse

Home >> Parenting & Families >> Adolescent Substance Abuse

Adolescent Substance Abuse

Drug abuse is so widespread in our culture that you cannot expect to isolate your child from exposure to it. However, as with diseases caused by bacteria and viruses, you can institute infection-control measures. Specifically, take the action of reducing the likelihood of contact with drugs, and build your child's immune against using them. These measures should be ongoing, deliberate, and proactive

Model behavior you want your children

When it comes to drugs, two adages are worth noting: "Children learn whalive" and "What parents allow in moderation their children will do inWhile not absolute truths, these maxims reflect the reality that kids are their parents for cues as to what is acceptable behavior, while at the same time developing the discernment required to understand what moderation is all about.

If you smoke, your offspring will probably do likewise. But it's never too late and your decision to give up cigarettes will make an important statementthe members of your family—especially if you are willing to hold yourself=table to them.

If you consume alcohol at home, what role does it play in your life? Does itfreely on a daily basis? Do you need a drink to unwind at the end of the day? Is it a necessary ingredient at every party or family get-together? If so, your will get the picture that alcohol is a painkiller, tension reliever, and the life party, and they will likely use it in a similar fashion. For their sake (and take whatever steps are necessary to live without alcohol.

If you drink modestly—an occasional glass of wine with dinner, a beer every week, a few sips of champagne at a wedding—think carefully about alcohol role in your family. Many parents decide to abstain while rearing their children in order to send an unambiguous message to steer clear of it. Others feel modeling modest, non intoxicated use of alcohol (while speaking clearly first underage drinking, drunkenness, driving under the influence, and other responsible behaviors) equips children and teenagers to make sensible choice in later in life.

Each family must weigh the options carefully and set its own standards. Butyou or any blood relatives have a history of alcohol addiction (or any problem.:used by drinking), make your home an alcohol-free zone and warn your ado-scent that he or she may have a genetic predisposition toward alcoholism.

Also think about the impact of your family's habits on visitors or guests, in-calding your teenager's friends. What might be perfectly harmless for you couldprompt someone who has a potential for alcohol addiction to make a bad decision.things considered, nothing is lost and much can be gained by abstaining from them.

What about the medicine cabinet? If you are stressed, upset, or uncomfortable, d-r-u-g-s the way you spell r-e-l-i-e-f? Have you accumulated prescription nar- fics and tranquilizers that you utilize freely when the going gets tough? KidsL-m't blind. if they see the adults around them frequently taking "legitimate" drugs dull their pain, why can't they use their own drugs of choice to do the same?

Even if you feel you have a legitimate need for painkillers (recurrent backaches, chronic back pain), you can become addicted to prescription drugs. Finding other ways to cope and working diligently to minimize the use of drugs for pain relief should be priorities. The appropriate use of antidepressants treat the biochemistry of mood disorders does not represent a potential abuse. These medications are not addicting or habit-forming and are not sold the street to create an artificial drug high.

Finally, if you use marijuana and other street drugs, whether for repurposes or because of an addiction problem, you are putting the parental approval not only on the drugs but also on breaking the law. For your family's sake, seek help immediately and bring this dangerous addiction to an end. Build identity and attitudes that are resistant to drug use. This is an ongoing project, beginning during the first years of your specifically:

1.Create an environment that consistently balances love and limits. Children and teenagers who know they are loved unconditionally are unlikely to seek "pain relief" through drugs, and those who have live within appropriate boundaries will have better impulse contain self-discipline to instill respect and awe for the God-given gift of a body and min:—one that isn't perfect.

2. Help children and adolescents become students of consequences--only in connection with drugs but with other behaviors as well.about good and bad choices and the logic behind them. "Just sa- -an appropriate motto for kids to learn, but understanding wk.wrong to use harmful substances will build more solid resistane-,

3. Build a positive sense of identity with your family. This means openly affirming and appreciating each member but putting time and effort for shared experiences that are meaningful andstrong feeling of belonging to a loving family builds accountability ("Our family doesn't use drugs") and helps prevent loneliness, a setup for a drug experience.

4. Encourage church-related activities (including family devotionsbuild a meaningful, personal faith. Reliance on God is the corne.drug treatment programs, and it makes no sense to leave the spirt::dimension out of the prevention process. A vibrant faith reinforce:concept that the future is worth protecting, stabilizes the emotic -during turbulent years, and provides a healthy response to thepains of life. In addition, an awareness of God's presence and a L.not to dishonor Him can be strong deterrents to destructive behavior in talking early about smoking, alcohol, and drugs.< use experimentation with drugs and alcohol commonly begins during thee-school years, start appropriate countermeasures in very young children. A-year-old may not be ready for a lecture about the physiology of cocaine ad-Lion, but you should be ready to offer commentary when you and your childsomeone smoking or drinking, whether in real life or in a movie or TV program

5. If intoxication is portrayed as humorous (as in the pink-elephant se- ce in the movie Dumbo, for example), don't be shy about setting the record- .1fght. .cep talking about smoking, alcohol, and drugs as opportunities arise. :ake an effort to stay one step ahead of your child's or adolescent's knowledgef the drug scene. If you hear about an athlete, rock star, or celebrity who uses::-ugs, be certain that everyone in the family understands that no amount ofarne or fortune excuses this behavior. If a famous person is dealing with the con-tquences of drug use (such as being dropped from a team or suffering medical7 legal consequences), make sure your kids hear the cautionary tale.

6. Be aware of current trends in your community and look for local meetings lectures where abuse problems are being discussed. Find out what's going on not only from the experts but from your kids and their friends. If you hear that at someone is smoking, drinking, inhaling, or injecting drugs, talk about it...-hat are they using? What consequences are likely? Why is it wrong? What helpta they need?

6. All this assumes that you are available to have these conversations. Be careful, be- use the time when you may be the busiest with career or other responsibilities:1 ay also be the time one or more adolescents at home most need your input. If you're too overworked, overcommitted, and overtired to keep tabs on the home7-ont, you may wake up one day to find a major drug problem on your doorstep.

7. Don't allow your child or adolescent to go to a party, sleepover,or other activity that isn't supervised by someone you trust.

8. Don't blindly assume that the presence of a grown-up guarantees a safe environment. Get to know your kids' friends' parents, not just your kids' friends. Makesertain your child knows you will pick him up anytime, anywhere—no questionsasked—if he finds himself in a situation where drugs or alcohol is being used.And be sure to praise him for a wise and mature decision if he does so.

9. Have the courage to curtail your child's or adolescent's friend drug users.The epidemic of drug abuse spreads person to person. Whether acquaintance or a long-term bosom buddy, if one (or more) of his friends is known to be actively using alcohol and/or drugs, you musput restrictions on the relationship.You might, for example, stipulate that adolscent can spend time with that person only in your home when you are around. However, even with these limits in place, you will need to kewho is influencing whom. If your family is reaching out to helping to move him toward healthier decisions, keepwork. But if there is any sign that the drug-using friend is pullingtoward his lifestyle, declare a quarantine immediately. By all me:-teenager feels called to help a friend climb out of a drug quagm:him try it alone. Work as a team to direct that person toward a re:gram.

10. Create significant consequences to discourage alcohol.

Teenagers may not be scared off by facts, figures, and gory details. An ominous warnings may not override an adolescent's belief in her own opinion, especially when other compelling emotions such as the need for operating at full throttle.

You may improve the odds by making it clear that you considercigarettes, alcohol, or illegal drugs a very serious matter. judgmenl -punishments fitting crimes will be necessary, of course. If your ado:fesses that he tried a cigarette or a beer at a party and expresses a resolve to avoid a repeat performance, heart-to-heart conversation arranagement would be far more appropriate than summarily grounding --months.

But if your warnings repeatedly go unheeded, you will need to _enforce some meaningful consequences. Loss of driving, dating, orprivileges for an extended period of time may be in order. You can ter pill less threatening by pointing out the following: He can easily avoid the penalty by staying clear of drugs and- who use them.

Consistent responsible behavior leads to more privileges and indepen-dence. Irresponsible behavior leads to decreased independence and moreparental control.The drastic consequence can be used as a reason to get away from a bad situation. If a friend starts to exert pressure to smoke, drink, or usedrugs, he can say, "Sorry, but I don't want to be stuck without transportation for the next six months."

Other Parenting Artcles:

Home :: Contact Us :: About Us :: Privacy Policy :: Terms of Use :: Site Map