Teens start using drugs for many reasons. They might feel pressure from friends or they might think the drugs will help them fit in, study longer or relax. Some might just want to see what it's like to use a drug. Many teens who go from trying or using drugs to abusing drugs have other mental health issues such as depression or they might have a family history of abuse or become physically addicted.
Signs and Symptoms
Signs of teen drug abuse include secrecy, new interests such as music that relates to drug use, isolation and depression, Helpguide.org reports. Many teens who abuse drugs experience a decline in their grades, skip school to use substances and get in more trouble at school. They might try to hide their drug use from their parents by burning incense and using eye drops. Some parents of teens who abuse drugs find that they are missing money and prescription medication.
Effects
When a teen abuses drugs, it affects the entire family. The teen's siblings might feel worried, anxious and embarrassed. Parents usually have a mix of emotions such as fear, anger, sadness, hopelessness and guilt. The physical effects of drug abuse can harm the teen's health and risk his life. Many teens participate in reckless behaviors such as drinking and driving and having unprotected sex when they use drugs. The consequences of these behaviors can lead to trouble with the law, pregnancy and death.
Misconceptions
When a teen uses drugs for the first time, it's her choice. As she continues to use, her body and brain change, often leaving her physically addicted to the drugs, according to The Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Once the person becomes addicted or craves the drug, it's no longer an easy choice. Sometimes it becomes uncontrollable. Helpguide.org reports that overcoming drug addiction is not a matter of willpower. Many parents get the message that their teens aren't going to benefit from treatment unless they want it. Most teens who abuse drugs don't want professional help, but they can benefit from treatment just as much as teens who volunteer for it, according to Helpguide.org. Parents who find their teens drinking should be just as worried as parents who find their teens using other illegal drugs. It's just as addicting, and according to Teen Drug Abuse, teens who use alcohol are 50 times more likely to try cocaine than teens who never drink alcohol.
Considerations
Some parents look for signs of alcohol and illegal drug abuse, but they don't consider that their teens might be using prescription drugs. Teens Health reports that a National Survey on Drug Use and Health found that about 6 percent of teens aged 12 to 17 had tried using prescription drugs during a one-month period. Teens abuse medication for ADHD to lose weight and to pull all-nighters to study. They also abuse pain medication such as OxyContin and Vicodin to relax and feel happier. These medications can be just as detrimental and habit-forming as illegal drugs.
Treatment Options
Teens who abuse drugs have many treatment options such as detoxification if physically addicted, as well as individual and family therapy, support groups and group therapy, intensive outpatient programs and short- and long-term rehabilitation. To determine a treatment plan, the parents and teen should consider other mental health problems such as depression or anxiety, the teen's environment at home and school, the drugs that the teen abuses and the severity of the abuse.
