Teenage Alcohol and Drug Abuse

It is usual for adolescents to experiment alcohol and drugs.  What they fail to see is what these drugs could have on their health today and in the future. According to a report published by an online publisher some try the substances and stop while others cannot control their cravings or urges for them.  This is what is known as substance abuse.

Signs of Teenage Substance Abuse

Studies: They tend to have a decreased interest and a negative attitude toward school.  They are absent from school, their grades drop and they tend to have discipline issues.

Emotions: Adolescents have sudden changes in moods, change in personality, poor judgment, lack of interest in almost everything, irritability, and poor judgment.

Social Problems:  They tend to become less interested in school activities and standard home. Also, they have problems with law and noticeable changes in conventional music and dress styles.

Physical changes: Lasting cough, glazed and red eyes, fatigue and repeatable health illnesses.

Family: Family withdrawal, picking arguments with family members and breaking rules.

Why Teenagers Abuse Drugs

To Experiment: Teenagers are usually driven to seek new experiences, especially those they identify as bold or stimulating.

To fit in:  Adolescents use drugs because they want to fit in with their friends and fear of being lonely if they do not do what their friends are doing.

To do better: We are living in a competitive world whereby you are in pressure to perform well academically as well as athletically. In cases like this, teenagers turn to drugs because they tend to believe that those substances will improve or enhance their performance.

Poor parent-child communication:  Adolescent abuse of drugs could be minimized if parents could engage in serious talks about drugs and alcohol with them. Many teens use drugs because their parents do not talk to them about the dangers of alcohol and drugs.

Unsupervised Accessibity: Many parents leave alcohol at accessible places in their homes. This makes it possible for their child to steal it when they are not around.

Drugs Abused by Teenagers

1.      Depressants

2.      Inhalants

3.      Tobacco products

4.      Cannabinoids

5.      Narcotics

6.      Stimulants

7.      Hallucinogens

Dealing with Teenage Drug/Alcohol Abuse

1.      Academic journal articles have written that it is important to engage in talks with your child- Award your teens for the little things they do.

2.      Ensure that your teenager is busy with meaningful activities such as church programs or sport activities.

3.      Know the peers that your child is associating with. Ensure that his or her friends do not smoke cigarettes, abuse drugs and are at your child`s feet to ensure that he/she does not abuse drugs.

4.      Always set rules for your child and ensure that he follows them to the latter.