| Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal
drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence
is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often dont see the link between
their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have
a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that
others experience.
Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of
using other drugs later. Some teens will experiment and stop, or
continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others
will develop a dependency, moving on to more dangerous drugs and
causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.
Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for
many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce
stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. It is difficult to know which
teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.
Who is At Risk?
Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems
include those:
with a family history of substance abuse
who are depressed
who have low self-esteem
who feel like they dont fit in or are out of the mainstream
Teenagers abuse a variety of drugs, legal and illegal.
Alcohol
Tobacco: Teens who smoke are three times more likely than nonsmokers
to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and 22
times more likely to use cocaine. Smoking is associated with a host
of other risky behaviors, such as fighting and engaging in unprotected
sex.
Prescribed medications
Inhalants: Known by such street names as huffing, sniffing and
wanging, the dangerous habit of getting high by inhaling the fumes
of common household products is estimated to claim the lives of
more than a thousand children each year. Many other young people,
including some first-time users, are left with serious respiratory
problems and permanent brain damage.
Over-the-counter cough, cold, sleep, and diet medications (such
as Corex, phencidyle,etc.)
Marijuana, hashish,bhang
Stimulants: The possible long-term effects include tolerance and
dependence, violence and aggression, malnutrition due to suppression
of appetite. Crack, a powerfully addictive stimulant, is the term
used for a smokeable form of cocaine.
Club drugs: This term refers to drugs being used by teens and
young adults at all-night dance parties such as "raves"
or "trances," dance clubs, and bars. MDMA (Ecstasy), GHB,
Rohypnol (Rophies), ketamine, methamphetamine, and LSD are some
of the club or party drugs gaining popularity. Because some club
drugs are colorless, tasteless, and odorless, they can be added
unobtrusively to beverages by individuals who want to intoxicate
or sedate others. In recent years, there has been an increase in
reports of club drugs used to commit sexual assaults.
Depressants: These are drugs used medicinally to relieve anxiety,
irritability, tension. There is a high potential for abuse and,
combined with alcohol, effects are heightened and risks are multiplied.
Heroin: Several sources indicate an increase in new, young users
across the country who are being lured by inexpensive, high-purity
heroin that can be sniffed or smoked instead of injected. Heroin
has also been appearing in more affluent communities.
Steroids: Anabolic steroids are a group of powerful compounds
closely related to the male sex hormone testosterone.
The use of illegal drugs is increasing, especially among young
teens. The average age of first marijuana use is 14, and alcohol
use can start before age 12. The use of marijuana and alcohol in
high school has become common.
Drug use is associated with a variety of negative consequences,
including increased risk of serious drug use later in life, school
failure, and poor judgment which may put teens at risk for accidents,
violence, unplanned and unsafe sex, and suicide.
Warning Signs of Teen Substance Abuse
Physical
fatigue
repeated health complaints
red and glazed eyes
lasting cough
Emotional
personality change
sudden mood changes
irritability
irresponsible behavior
low self-esteem
poor judgment
depression
general lack of interest
Family
starting arguments
negative attitude
breaking rules
withdrawing from family
secretiveness
School
decreased interest
negative attitude
drop in grades
many absences
truancy
discipline problems
Social problems
new friends who make poor decisions and are not interested
in school or family activities
problems with the law
changes to less conventional styles in dress and music
Some of the warning signs listed above can also be signs of other
problems. Parents may recognize signs of trouble but should not
be expected to make the diagnosis.
Consulting a physician to rule out physical causes of the warning
signs is a good first step. This should often be followed or accompanied
by a comprehensive evaluation by a psychiatrist or mental health
professional.
Substance Abuse Treatment
Parents can help through early education about drugs, open communication,
good role modeling, and early recognition if problems are developing.
If there is any suspicion that there is a problem, parents must
find the most appropriate intervention for their child.
The decision to get treatment for a child or adolescent is serious.
Parents are encouraged to seek consultation from a mental health
professional when making decisions about substance abuse treatment
for children or adolescents.
Parents and families must be informed consumers and should be
involved in their child's recovery. Here are some important things
to consider:
No single treatment is appropriate for all teens.
It is important to match treatment settings, interventions, and
services to each individual's particular problems and needs. This
is critical to his or her ultimate success in returning to healthy
functioning in the family, school, and society.
Effective treatment must attend to the multiple needs of the individual
-- not just the drug use.
Any associated medical, psychological, social, and cognitive problem
must be be addressed.
Remaining in treatment for an adequate period of time is critical
for treatment effectiveness and positive change.
Each person is different and the amount of time in treatment will
depend on his or her problems and needs. Research shows that for
most individuals, the beginning of improvement begins at about 3
months into treatment. After this time, there is usually further
progress toward recovery. Length of stay in a residential program
can range from 8 to 18 months, depending upon the individual's willingness
and commitment.
Counseling (individual and/or group) and other behavioral
therapies are critical components of effective treatment.
In therapy, teens look at issues of motivation, build skills to
resist drug use, replace drug-using activities with constructive
and rewarding behaviors, and improve problem-solving skills. Behavioral
therapy also facilitates interpersonal relationships and the teen's
ability to function in the home and community.
Addicted or drug-abusing individuals with coexisting mental disorders
should have both disorders treated in an integrated way.
Because addictive disorders and mental disorders often occur in
the same individual, individuals should be assessed and treated
for the co-occurrence of the other type of disorder.
Medical detoxification is only the first stage of addiction treatment
and by itself does little to change long-term drug use.
Medical detoxification safely manages the acute physical symptoms
of withdrawal associated with stopping drug use. While detoxification
alone is rarely sufficient to help addicts achieve long-term abstinence,
for some individuals it is a strongly indicated precursor to effective
drug addiction treatment.
Treatment does not need to be voluntary to be effective.
Strong motivation can facilitate the treatment process.
Sanctions or enticements in the family, school setting, or juvenile
justice system can increase significantly both treatment entry and
retention rates and the success of drug treatment interventions.
Recovery from addiction can be a long-term process and frequently
requires multiple episodes of treatment.
As with other chronic illnesses, relapses to drug use can occur
during or after successful treatment episodes. Addicted individuals
may require prolonged treatment and multiple episodes of treatment
to achieve long-term abstinence and fully restored functioning.
Participation in self-help support programs during and following
treatment often is helpful in maintaining abstinence. Parents should
ask what aftercare treatment services are available for continued
or future treatment.
Role of Homoeopathy in Addictions
Homeopathy is a non-toxic system of medicine that uses highly-diluted
remedies to treat illness and relieve discomfort in a wide variety
of health conditions. It is thought that homeopathic remedies are
able to stimulate a persons bodily systems to deal with stress
and illness more efficiently. Research is currently being undertaken
to understand how and why these remedies work on the mental and
physical level. Specific homeopathic remedies may be helpful during
the period of withdrawal from alcohol or drugs.
Holistic approaches to addiction and alcoholism can be of great
assistance throughout the stages of recovery. From detoxification
to reducing stress and improving mental and physical well being,
holistic approaches play a vital role in regaining personal balance.
For the recovering addict, holistic approaches should be accompanied
by a professional treatment plan but can be effective well beyond
the initial recovery phase.
Recent scientific studies have demonstrated dramatically improved
success rates with the addition of holistic treatment approaches.
Alcoholism is a chronic, often progressive disease that can be
fatal. The condition involves a preoccupation with alcohol and impaired
control over alcohol intake. Alcoholism usually involves physical
dependence on the drug alcohol, but genetic, psychological and social
factors contribute to this addiction. |
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