Teenage Drug Addiction Issues

Teenage drug use and teenage drug addiction is not a new problem, but it is a continuously growing problem. Despite all efforts made to educate children and young teenagers about the effects of drug use, the rates continue to grow for teenage drug addiction.

In fact, new trends of drug use have developed with teenagers. Statistics show that nearly 1 in 5 teenagers have tried prescription drugs to get high, and 1 in 10 teenagers report abusing cough medicine in an attempt to get high.

There are many new 'alternative' methods that teenagers today attempt to get high, all of which just as dangerous as 'normal' drug addiction.

The most common and popular drug that teenagers become addicted to remains marijuana, despite common belief that marijuana is 'not addicting'. More teens are treated for dependence on marijuana than for dependence of any other illicit drug.

Marijuana is considered by many to be a 'gateway drug', but to an equal majority marijuana is 'not so bad'. There has been a long standing controversy over marijuana and its legal status, and this can warp a teenagers’ impression of drug use in general.

The effects of drug abuse do vary from drug to drug, but it is important that children and teenagers are educated on the negative effects of drug use in general as well as abuse of specific drugs.

Teenagers go through changes in their life, and during this sensitive period they will be faced with a challenge. Although you can not make decisions for your teenager, you can take every step possible to educate your teenager on the effects of drug abuse.

This can be very difficult.

While 9 out of 10 parents say that they have talked to their teenager about drug use, less than a third of teenagers say that they have learned about the risks of drug abuse from parents.

There are many factors that may lead to this major gap. Parents may feel uncomfortable about discussing drug abuse with their children, and in a way "rush through the conversation". Some parents may not have educated themselves enough to fully have this conversation.

Bear in mind that these days, it is not uncommon for your child to know more about drugs than you do. So it is important to educate yourself before trying to educate your child.

There are many possible reasons why just talking to teenagers will not prevent teenage drug abuse or teenage drug addiction, and there are too many to list. One of the most important reasons is that during adolescence, children are 'rebellious' and insistent on trying new things.

So curiosity and stubbornness can lead to teenage drug use. Drug use can quickly lead to drug abuse, and this can lead to drug addiction but the road does not stop there. Drug abuse is a destructive road that leads to even worse problems.

Warning Signs of Teenage Drug Addiction

It is important to watch for any signs of drug use in your teenager before it becomes a drug addiction. These warning signs can be almost invisible at time, other times they can be very obvious.

Parents should fully educate themselves on the warning signs to look for, and to be prepared to treat these signs accordingly.

'Mild' warning signs to let you know if your teenager may be using or addicted to drugs:

• Loss of Motivation
• Withdrawal: from friends, family, and normal activities
• Changes in: sleeping patterns, friends, hygiene, weight, appetite
• Lying
• Behaving Secretively
• Problems in school: grades drop, skipping class, discipline problems

Personality changes that occur with teenage drug addiction:

• Over-reacting to (even mild) criticism
• Rage, hostility
• Over sensitivity
• Emotional outbursts
• Moodiness, irritability
• Depression
• Anxiety

Obvious warning signs of teenage drug addiction:

• Drugs
• Drug paraphernalia
• Eye drops
• Disappearance of money or valuable items
• Smelling of tobacco
• Coughing (lasting over a week)
• Stuffy nose or constant sniffling
• Dilated or constricted pupils
• Bloodshot eyes

While looking for warning signs of teenage drug addiction, parents should be suspicious and not dismissive, yet should also never have an accusatory manner. Teenagers are already in a sensitive time, and drug addiction is too dangerous of a risk to push your child away.