Adolescent & Teen Drug Addiction

Teen Drug Addiction Treatment: Preventing Teen Drug Use

Many parents are in denial that their teenager will ever try drugs and if they do, they feel they won’t stick to it. Truth be told, many parents are shocked to find out that their teen is addicted to drugs. If only the parents were less naïve and more watchful of signs and behavioral patterns, they could have prevented the inevitable. Many teens die from drug overdose annually, so it is up to parents to learn all they can to prevent teen drug use. With the help of teen drug addiction treatment, we can help our teens bounce back from an addiction and have normal lives once again. Plus, teen drug addiction treatment lowers the chance of relapse than trying to cure your teen yourself. In this article, you will read about:

• Popular teen drugs
• How teens get access to these drugs
• Dangerous effects of teen drug addiction

Types of Drugs Teens Abuse

Teenagers are always looking to blend in with certain crowds at school, so they’re eager to do whatever it takes to become popular and/or well-liked by their peers. Even if it means harming themselves, without actually knowing how dangerous their actions are. Teen drug addiction is growing by the day and they’re getting smarter at using them. There are various types of drugs that teens use to get a buzz or high, especially since they are unable to get their hands on alcohol easily. The drugs that teens are able to get to easily include:

• Inhalants
• Prescription drugs
• Marijuana
• Ecstasy
• Cocaine
• Heroin
• Cold medications
• Depressants
• Stimulants
• Tobacco

Some are, of course, easier to get their hands on than others.

How Teens Get Their Hands on Drugs

A lot of parents don’t think their teens are using drugs because it is “impossible” to get a hold of or isn’t available in their residential area. Teens today are able to get access to drugs in schools, amongst their friends, parties and teen dealers. Teens have their ways of hiding the drug as well, such as stashing ecstasy pills in warmed and unwrapped tootsie rolls and rewrapped, or placing pills inside of children’s vitamin bottles. Prescription drugs are especially easy to get a hold of and are sometimes preferred over the usual recreational drugs, like heroin, cocaine and marijuana. Rx drugs can be purchased online using a debit or credit card, and no prescription or I.D. is required. That is how accessible drugs are to children these days.

Side Effects of Adolescent Drug Addiction

Depending on the type of drug that your adolescent child is using will determine the type of side effects they will have. Each have their own set, so it is important that you look them all up, so that you can know what to expect. Overall teen drug addiction can cause:

• Decreased ability to pay attention
• The longer the drug is used, the harder it is to quit successfully
• Emotional problems like depression, anxiety, hallucinations, suicide and mood swings
• Promiscuity
• Chances of turning to more harmful / stronger drugs
• Respiratory and cardiovascular damage
• Kidney, liver and brain damage
• Insomnia and a variety of others.