Teens will be teens when it comes being curious, including the temptation for substance use.
For several reasons, they might experiment with illicit drugs to blend in with peers, poor self-esteem, for coping reasons, or make them seem more grown-up. They want to try new things and take chances, but, if it sounds fun, then they are more likely to experiment with drugs. Some teenagers may try a few times and stop. Others may struggle to handle their impulses or cravings, and may go further than expected.
Using illicit drugs can lead to social and health issues, disability, and even death in the long term. Illicit drugs can impact teenage growth and development. It can be difficult for teenagers who use these illicit drugs to find their identities, develop interpersonal skills, and become emotionally secure. They may have difficulties planning for their future, too. Substance use can influence memory and comprehension, which can detract from a teenager’s academic career.
Illicit drug use can escalate very rapidly in teenagers at risk from experimentation or sporadic use to frequent use and substance use disorder. If you are worried about your teen’s substance use, you can seek addiction counseling.
Why Substance Abuse is Harmful to the Brain
The adolescent years are crucial in cognitive development and functioning, so it is important during these years to uphold a strict standard of healthy behavior. Drug addiction can impair the brain's short-term capacity to function and prevent healthy growth and development for later in the life.
Substance use affects the growth of teenage brains by:
Interfering with neurotransmitters and unhealthy brain links
Reducing the potential for gratification
Creating memory issues
Causing lost opportunities during a time of increased opportunity for learning
Develop of negative behaviors and patterns
Inhibiting the growth of perception
Social and Professional Outcomes of Teen Substance Use
Other consequences can plague teenagers long into their adulthood, besides the physical dangers of substance addiction. There are also side effects of drug abuse that go way beyond the biochemical and physiological dimensions since substance abuse can tamper with judgment and foster reckless decisions.
Some of these include:
Criminal records that cannot easily be expunged
Vehicle accidents
Assaults
Sexually transmitted infections
Unplanned pregnancies
Lack of academic and career opportunities
Broken relationships with families and friends
While illicit drug use may relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression temporarily, when it's not used or used long-term, adolescents feel much worse. For teenagers with depression, substance use is a risk factor for suicide.
How to Get Help for Your Teen
What can you do next if you find out that your teen is using drugs?
No one automatically knows how to talk to someone who is addicted to illicit drugs. Early intervention starts with communication, but with more clinical support, it can lead to structured intervention. Family intervention is also beneficial and keeps the family in charge of the value of avoiding substance addiction and attending therapy for addiction. It gets increasingly stronger as it leaves some addiction as it is.
Take your teen seriously if your teen uses drugs. Encourage an open discussion with your teen about the issue. Try not to use negative and judgmental words out of panic. During this time, be as helpful as you can. The sort of therapy that your teen requires depends on the extent of drug use. Ask a pediatrician, psychologist, or therapist for recommendations, including addiction counseling, family counseling, intensive outpatient programs or inpatient treatment for addiction if you do not know what to do or if you feel anxious.
After recovery, relapse is normal. It is not a failure by the recovery center or your teenager. Recovery is hard and takes time from drug use disorder. Understand that your teen will face setbacks and they need to take their recovery one step at a time with your unwavering support and care.
You can help your teen to get through it if your teen is showing dangerous signs of substance abuse. To find out how to get them addiction counseling, get in touch with one of our providers at 919-647-4600. Also visit our Substance Use Counseling and Teen Counseling page to learn more about it.
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Teens will try anything, including the temptation for substance use.
For several reasons, they might use drugs to blend in with peers, to feel better about themselves or make them seem more grown-up. They want to try new stuff and take chances, but, if it sounds fun, they can take drugs. Some teenagers try them just a few times and stop. Others can't handle their impulses or cravings for them and may go further than expected.