What You Need to Know About Teen Substance Abuse

What You Need to Know About Teen Substance Abuse Though ​some recent studies​ suggest that teenagers are currently less likely to abuse substances than they were twenty years ago, the psychoactive intensity of some of today’s most popular recreational substances is greater than ever before. Families that are affected by the presence of substance abuse disorders may need to seek help in order to assure a full and productive recovery.

This article will briefly discuss some of the most important things for a parent of a teenager with a substance abuse disorder to know. The road to recovery begins with recognizing that there is a problem. Though recovery is something that will usually not take place over night, if you are able to offer love and access to necessary resources, you can be the source of support that your teenager needs.

There are many teenagers who struggle with substance abuse disorders that are able to eventually overcome their affliction and live productive, satisfying lives. Approaching your teen and talking about their condition is something that can often be incredibly difficult. They will likely deny that they have a problem and will insist that you don’t need help. During this time, it is important to recognize that your teenager’s anger is not directed at you—even if these exchanges become incredibly unpleasant, you should remember that connecting them with the resources they need is in their best interest.

Teenage Substance Abuse Facts & Statistics One of the most reliable sources for information regarding teenage substance abuse disorders is the ​National Institute on Drug Abuse​. ​This public organization has been carefully monitoring trends and patterns regarding substance abuse for the purpose of “advancing addiction science.”

According to their Monitoring the Future (MTF) report, an estimated 5.8 percent of 8​th​ graders, 9.4 percent of 10​th​ graders, and 13.3 percent of 12​th​ graders used an illicit substance other than marijuana within the past year. These figures are significantly lower than they were in the past, which suggests that some progress has been made. Alcohol use has also been decreasing.

However, there have been some other recent trends that have been particularly disturbing. ● Though alcohol consumption (of any amount) among teens is lower than ever, “binge” drinking has notably been on the rise in the United States. ● Recreational consumption of prescription medication—particularly amphetamines, painkillers, and tranquilizers—is currently a nationwide problem. ● Teenagers who are experiencing a substance abuse disorder are more likely to experience another mental health disorder at the same time.

If your teenager has a prescription for drugs such as Adderall, Vyvanse, Xanax, or opiates, it is important to monitor their behavior and make sure these drugs are not being abused or having

unintended consequences. Substances that are categorized as “Schedule II” are the ones which are believed to have potential medical benefits as well as a high potential for abuse. If your teenager begins to demonstrate any of the signs and symptoms of substance abuse—which certainly includes alcohol—you may need to seek help from an outside source.

Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms of Drug Abuse Many of the signs and symptoms of teenage drug abuse may take a significant amount of time to fully manifest themselves. The ways in which substance abuse disorders are presented to the outside world will depend on your teenager’s unique personality as well as the substances they are currently abusing.

Generally speaking, abuseable substances will be categorized as stimulants, depressants, or hallucinogens. ● Stimulants increase neuro-activity and include amphetamines, cocaine, and other comparable substances. Signs of stimulant abuse include mania, excessive talking, hyperactivity, paranoia, and possibly psychosis. Irrational or spontaneous decision-making is also likely to occur. ● Depressants decrease neuro-activity and include painkillers, barbiturates, opiates, heroin, and others. Signs of abuse might include depression, difficulty completing ordinary tasks, an ongoing lack of motivation, constant sleeping, drowsiness, and ongoing irritability. ● Hallucinogens change the way that people perceive the objective world and include marijuana, LSD, DMT, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and others. Abuse is often characterized by dissociations with reality. ● Alcohol is typically classified as a depressant, but may present characteristics of stimulants and hallucinogens as well. Alcohol is currently the most widely abused substance by both teenagers and adults alike.

Once you believe that your teenager may have a substance abuse disorder, the next thing you will need to do is confront them. Though these confrontations—which may or may not occur with a traditional “intervention”—are usually quite difficult, they are an important step in the recovery process. Expecting these issues to resolve themselves on their own or expecting your teenager to come to you and admit they have a problem will rarely result in productive outcomes.

Talking to Your Teen about a Substance Abuse Disorder Though there isn’t a universal “formula” to help connect your teenager with the resources they need to recover, there are still some important things for you to consider as a parent. ● Avoid blaming, yelling, and insisting that your teenager’s problems are their “fault” ● Create an environment of love and support—make sure it is clear that your teen knows you are there to actually help them

● Recognize that the recovery process takes time ● Seek professional help when necessary—even if you have pure intentions, there are some things that are simply beyond your ability to control Once your teenager has been able to get a diagnosis from a licensed physician, the recovery process can officially begin. Typically, the diagnosis process will try to pinpoint which substances are actively being abused and also try to identify if there are any other mental health issues affecting your teenager’s well-being.

The Importance of Dual Diagnosis In recent years, the ​psychiatric teen treatment centers​ have placed an increased emphasis on a practice known as ​dual diagnosis. ​As studies have continued to show (perhaps unsurprisingly so), individuals who suffer from one mental health condition are the ones that are most likely to also be suffering from another. Rather than trying to address each of these mental health issues separately, ​dual diagnosis ​makes it possible to treat the “whole person” and focus on every relevant condition at once.

Teenagers suffering from a substance abuse disorder are more likely to develop another disorder over time. Similarly, individuals who already have a mental health disorder are more likely to abuse various substances (this is often done as a coping mechanism or “self-medication”). The reason why dual diagnosis has been such a productive practice is that it has caused clinicians to recognize that many of these relevant issues are irreversibly connected to one another. Conditions that are commonly associated substance abuse disorders include depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, psychosis, eating disorders, and many others.

Connecting Your Teen with the Resources They Need to Recover The recovery process will usually be quite extensive. Even if your teenager is able to quit abusing substances right away (cold turkey), sustaining their progress and returning their brain chemistry back to normal will still require a considerable amount of time. The best substance abuse treatments for teens are the ones that are able to not only help them overcome their problems in the short-run, but also create results that last.

There are currently many different approaches to treating substance abuse disorders in teens.

As you would likely expect, the treatments that make the most sense for your teen will depend on whether any other conditions are present, the substances they are currently abusing, as well as their distinct personality. Successful recoveries may require the use of multiple different treatment modalities at the same time.

For teenagers who are experiencing the most severe levels of substance abuse disorders, being admitted to a ​Residential Treatment Center (RTC) m ​ ay be in their best interest. At a residential treatment center, your teenager can be isolated from the substances and external triggers that

are contributing to their disorder. Additionally, having a qualified staff on hand 24/7 can help them make sure they are getting the attention and treatment that they need.

Whether your teenager will be admitted to a residential treatment center or whether they get the help they need from somewhere else, being there for them as a parent is incredibly important. Even if your teen is unable to recognize it, you are likely one of the most needed sources of support that they currently have in their life. Taking the time to connect your teen with professional help is something that can create profound and permanent results.