Teens use drugs for many different reasons. One teen might begin using drugs to deal with feelings of depression and another teen might start using because she feels pressured by a group of friends at a party. Understanding the reason that a teen uses is one piece of the puzzle that's needed to help an adolescent who abuses drugs. Drug treatment for teens depends on the individual. There are many types of treatment and factors such as the teen's age, amount of use, drug of choice and other mental health and medical issues that determine what treatment is needed.
Step 1
Talk to the teenager about her drug use if you suspect that she's using. If she denies use, you can have her tested at your doctor's office or give her an at-home test, which is available at most drug stores. Some drugs won't show up on a drug screen if they haven't been used in the past couple days, so regular testing might be needed.
Step 2
Don't believe the teen if she says she can quit any time she wants to or says that she doesn't use that much. Family members and friends want to believe these things because it would make the situation easier. However, if you believe the teen has a drug problem, don't let her change your mind so easily. Look for warning signs that the teen has a problem. Signs include truancy, problems with the law, grades dropping or failing classes, sleeping for long periods of time and depression.
Step 3
Get support from a mental health professional. The best way to determine what type of treatment a teen needs is to consult with a therapist. Try to find a therapist who specializes in teen mental health problems and drug treatment. You can call several therapists, ask about their specialties and ask for referrals if they don't specialize in teen treatment. It's important to consult a therapist because many teens who struggle with drug abuse also struggle with mental health issues. Also, there are many types of treatment, such as detoxification, individual therapy, rehabilitation and 12-step programs. A professional can explain each type of treatment and help you decide the right fit.
Tips and Warnings
- You can't make anyone, including a teenager, stop abusing drugs. However, as parents, family members and friends, you can enable someone to continue using or encourage her to stop using. For instance, if you are a parent to a teen who abuses drugs, you shouldn't give her money because she might buy drugs with it. You can take privileges away and put restrictions into place. As a friend, you can refuse to be around the person when she's using or is buying drugs.
