Adolescence is a time of experimentation and risk taking. Teens naturally test the boundaries laid down by their parents and society as they strive to establish their independence and dabble in adult experiences. Unfortunately, their natural...
Alcohol is the most common drug used by youth in the United States. Alcohol abuse by adolescents can result in early addiction, various health problems and even death. Parents, schools and government agencies are exploring various ways to...
Alcohol use by adolescents runs the spectrum from one-time experimentation to problematic use to full-blown alcoholism. Teens who find themselves repeatedly drinking to excess and getting in trouble with the law, at school or at home may require...
The teenage years are a high-risk time period for alcohol addiction. Further, the effects of alcohol addiction can interrupt the development of skills required for healthy, productive living. Worse, teenagers addicted to alcohol are more likely to...
The American Medical Association reports that 11 million young people under the age of 21 consume alcohol. About 50 percent drink heavily, amounting to five or more drinks in one sitting, up to two times in a 14-day period. Underage drinking is a...
Alcoholism affects adolescents in many ways. The children of alcoholic parents are more likely to become alcoholics themselves because of their genes and the ramifications of living with an alcoholic, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and...
Alcohol and drug use in adolescence can lead to development delays in addition to creating a host of other problems for teenagers. According to the University of Minnesota, teenage alcohol and drug abuse is a major social ill that, when caught...
If you notice a sudden change in your child's behavior, you may be concerned that he is using drugs or alcohol. It can be difficult to distinguish between the normal ups and downs of the teenage years and substance abuse, according to Helpguide....
Drug abuse is a problem for adults but when adolescents use drugs, the social and behavioral issues caused from the substance abuse compound the problem. Drug use can lead adolescents to antisocial behavior, causing loss of interest in schoolwork,...
Methamphetamine, also called crystal meth, tweek, crank or glass, is a highly addictive and dangerous drug. Methamphetamines can cause heart attack or stroke due to the dramatic increase in heart rate and blood pressure that accompanies taking the...
As much as parents would like to protect their children from all forms of harm, there is no foolproof way to make sure that children don't find their way in to trouble. Trouble can come in many forms, including being irresponsible with possessions...
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) underage drinking creates a wide variety of physical and social risks for children and teens. Parents can have a major influence on their children's decision-making during...
Although drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the average age of first use of alcohol among adolescents is 14. Alcoholism in teenagers can cause potentially lasting damage....
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder characterized by chronic seizures, specifically two or more episodes occurring without provocation. A seizure results from an abnormal, sudden and excessive hyperactivity of electrical brain activity. According...
It's not easy being a teenager, let alone being the parent of a teenager. You may try desperately to understand what is going through your teenager's mind and, at times, communication might seem impossible. Your child's struggle to be independent,...
A number of influences can increase the risk of drug abuse by an individual. These include influences that are present in the home environment and in the individual's peer and social group that may make it seem more acceptable to experiment with...
Drinking in front of children can be a harmless activity as long as the children are taught about the possible hazards involved with alcohol by close, loving parents. Neglect and abuse, however, may lead to troubles for children of drinkers as...
The teenage years are a time when young people try to form an identity and fit in with their peers. They're usually under pressure to perform at school and at sports. Getting into college is competitive and many teens are afraid of disappointing...
Alcoholism remains a common problem in our society. At least 15 percent of young adults have an alcohol-related issue, according to a March 2005 report in the "Archives of General Psychiatry." Such abuse can have an adverse effect on your health....
Selenium is essential to brain function. Increases in dietary selenium, especially in deficient people, improve mood and depressive symptoms. Research hints that selenium may be used in the future as a preventive or in treatment of depression and...
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, substance abuse can have a wide variety of negative consequences on physical and emotional development during the teen years. Parents can support their adolescent children by...
Every day, about 8,000 kids between the ages of 12 and 17 try alcohol, according to the Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation. You'll come across alcohol more often than illegal drugs because it's easier for your friends to get....
Children with bipolar disorder struggle at home, with friends and in school. NAMI, the National Alliance for Mental Illness, describes bipolar as a chronic, lifelong condition involving recurring episodes of depression and mania lasting from days...
Kids who drink are more likely to become victims of crime, develop problems in school and suffer injury in alcohol-related car accidents, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Parents fret that the influences outside...
Maybe your teen has found a new group of friends. Or perhaps he is sleeping later than usual or his grades are beginning to drop in school. Initially you may not think anything of these changes, but eventually they begin to escalate into larger...
Alcohol is a fermented beverage that induces the temporary effect of euphoria in consumers. There are many misconceptions its use and abuse.
Consult a licensed mental health professional if you think that your teen is abusing alcohol to determine the type of treatment she needs. Treatment is based on how much the teen is using, other medical conditions and other mental health issues.
ADHD, a chronic condition, causes hyperactivity, inattention and impulsivity. For some children with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), symptoms are mild, causing daydreaming and lack of focus. For other children, however, the...
When you couple the fact that adolescents become addicted to substances more quickly than adults do with the reality that alcohol abuse frequently results in adolescent suicides and traffic deaths, the need for swift intervention becomes obvious....
