Unfortunately, many teenagers rely on drug and alcohol experimentation as a crucial part of growing up, despite the substantial risk and numerous negative repercussions. Some teenagers are first exposed to drugs through prescriptions and subsequently progress to recreational use. Some teenagers begin experimenting with drugs due to peer pressure or after hearing or seeing something about drug misuse.
Some even get their hands on drugs by robbing their parents’ medicine cabinets. As a result, teenage drug addiction is a real concern, regardless of how an adolescent first begins abusing substances.
During adolescence, it is common for people to make snap judgments based on incomplete information. It can be a time when you don’t think about the long-term impact of your actions. Teens are more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol at this time. Substance use starts and is most common in the seventh and eighth grades when students are between the ages of 13 and 14.
It’s a harrowing experience when confronted with this truth. Adopting bad habits at such a young age is difficult to comprehend, let alone when it’s happening right in front of our eyes. Instead, we want to think of it as a passing incident. Experimentation or the other kids at school can be blamed for our children’s early drug use. For us, finding out that our children are in danger or that they are to blame for their substance usage is the last thing we want to hear.
There are a lot of factors that can force a teenager to try or get addicted to this and tend to lose their lives in this. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not get the proper alcohol addiction treatment at the right time and get completely indulged in the drug world; a few reasons include
- Trying fit in
- To feel better themselves
- Experiment
- Peer pressure
- Competition
- To get attention
- Lack of awareness
How to find out if someone is struggling with addiction?
Teenagers go through many changes in their social, mental, and emotional lives as they grow up. Warning signs of teen drug addiction can be hard for friends and family to tell from regular hormonal and personal changes. This can make it hard for them to tell. However, there are a lot of things that loved ones should pay attention to, like:
- Depression, anxiety, or other mental disorders can happen.
- Their friends or partners who use drugs.
- People in your family who drink or take drugs.
- Traumatizing personal events
- With drugs and alcohol, people eat pop culture.
- There is not enough confidence in yourself.
- Oversleeping
- Deterioration in academic performance
- Losing money
- Lethargy
- Strong mood changes
- Taking a break from friends and family
- No longer taking part in old activities.
- Changes in how people look or how they act
Depending on the levels of addiction, the drug addiction treatment options can differ from person to person. Majorly used treatments include,
Detoxification
Detoxification is when their body is done getting rid of the drugs or alcohol so that they can start to get better. You can expect this to happen on its own. It can take a few days or weeks, depending on the situation of the person. When you detox with the help of professionals, you can be sure that it’s done safely and out of harm’s way. Your teen may also have physical or mental pain because they aren’t getting what they need from their addiction.
Rehabilitation Therapies
Therapy is generally the main emphasis of teen drug and alcohol rehab. Biological variables have a considerable influence on SUD teens. Typical brain defects include underdevelopment and asymmetry. One-on-one and group therapy are available. In addition to counseling, your teen’s addiction psychiatrist may recommend one or more of the following therapies.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) tries to understand the thinking behind a teen’s addiction and reshape these cognitive patterns. CBT is founded on the idea that thoughts influence our actions and how we see, interpret, and interpret our surroundings.
Motivational Interviewing
Motivational interviewing (or “brief intervention”) is a non-confrontational approach to helping patients explore their substance usage. Teen patients are urged to weigh the advantages and cons of their use and set objectives with their therapist to live a healthy lifestyle. Consult a Counseling doctor in Coimbatore to undergo addiction treatment to help yourself out of the addiction.
Recreational therapy
Recreational therapy (TR) is recommended by a doctor for addiction treatment which involves active leisure activities for teen rehab patients. A holistic approach is TR’s goal, rather than merely focusing on one’s mental well-being. For example, an adolescent addicted to drugs or alcohol might soon forget how to enjoy life without them. Recreational therapy helps them relax and find their personality’s positive features.
What is the leading cause of drug abuse in youth?
Children who were abused in any way as children are more prone to drug addiction. Peer and friend pressure is a critical risk factor, especially for young people at risk of drug usage and absence of family support.
Addiction is a disease that affects the brain and behavior, causing an inability to manage the use of legal or illegal drugs or medications. Addiction is chronic. But addicts can recover and live whole lives. Recovering needs help.
