Is My Teenager Using Drugs?
Why my teen would be considered an "At Risk Youth" or "Troubled Teen"
Nothing can destroy a family faster than the use of drugs by a troubled teenager within the home. Early detection and intervention for substance abuse increases the probability of successful treatment. We have found over the years that most parents only know 40% of the negative and destructive behaviors which their teenager is involved in. In most cases, drug use by a troubled teen has been going on for several months or even years. When parents do become aware of their child's drug use, they often underestimate the extent of their child's involvement. It is important to remember that even light drug use almost always advances into heavier experimentation. We have also found that children that have been diagnosed having ADD or ADHD are especially prone to be at-risk youth.
If you feel that your child may be experimenting with drugs, now is the time to make that pivotal decision. Behavior modification intervention is needed immediately. Most adolescents do not understand the path of addiction nor do they understand the consequences for such behavior. In some cases, they can be life-altering and even life-threatening. Here are some signs which your troubled teen might be exhibiting:
- Hygiene is neglected
- Poor performance in school
- Low self-esteem
- Extreme and excessive anger
- Eyewash in your child's bathroom or pockets
- Red eyes
- Glassy eyes
- Weight loss/poor appetite
- Running away
- Stealing from parents and siblings (things just seem to disappear)
- Lazy, no motivation
- Poor peer group, a sudden change from good friends to negative friends
- Depressed
- No concern for self and family
- Deception
- Lying
- No longer interested in favorite activities
- Abusive behavior
- Never home when agreed upon
- Oppositional defiant behavior in the classroom, in the community and at home.
- Disrespectful behavior
- Drug paraphernalia found
If your child exhibits 3 or more of these behaviors behavior modification is needed immediately. We recommend placement in a licensed residential treatment program or some other program that provides assistance and help for troubled teens.
Why Does My Child Use Drugs?
Why is My Child a Troubled Teen?
Most of us want to place the blame of our child's drug use on outside influences, such as poor security in the school and classroom or not enough police involvement in the community, thus allowing drug dealers to run unchecked, others kid's parents who are over indulgent, their child's friends, the belief that every child needs to experiment once in their lives and the drug laws are not tough enough. While these are valid concerns, the one that most of us want to ignore is that the child has made a personal negative choice based on how he/she feel at the moment. Often times they want to be popular, to be accepted, they may be curious or just have a need to mask traumatic experiences. Here are some reasons why troubled teenagers say they have experimented in drug use:
- To fit in, to be cool, to feel accepted and part of a group
- To rebel against adult authority
- To escape from reality
- They feel pressured by their peers
- It's easier to hide your true feelings of inadequacy and low self worth
- It provides momentary happiness. Anxiety and stress seem to magically disappear
- For something to do, "I'm bored"
Understand the Behavior
Most drug use begins out of curiosity and produces what seems to be a pleasurable, short-lived experience. The "gateway" drugs are marijuana, alcohol and cigarettes. From these, one develops a recreational use with friends at parties or after social functions. This involvement is only recreational use. Recreational use allows the drug user to occasionally experience short-term pleasure. It is at this point that one makes the decision to feel this way more often, so the use increases and becomes regular. One's life becomes consumed with acquiring more drugs or the means to obtain them. Their lives change, as if "overnight." They never seem to be home. All aspects of their lives change. They exhibit an absence of any desire to spend time with their families, at school, with school assignments or doing after school activities. Thus, we often hear from parents, "My child used to love sports" or "my child used to love to be with our family." At some point, if continuing along this path of destruction the child will become unable to function.
Before your troubled youth gets to this point, call us at Turning Winds, 1-800-845-1380, or contact us on the web at www.troubledteens.com. We can help your troubeled teen with behavior modification. We have a licensed residential treatment program for troubled teens. We will be happy to help you and your child!