by Jeanne Szatkowski, LICSW, CADCIII, Family & Children's Center Therapist
Adolescents are not exactly known for their emotional stability. Hormones, an increasing desire for independence and social turbulence converge during ‘tween and teen years, leaving parents guessing what behaviors are normal and which may indicate deeper problems. That’s a big reason parents may have a difficult time detecting whether their kids have substance abuse issues.
Whether with alcohol, pot or prescription drugs, substance experimentation that can lead to abuse usually starts between seventh and ninth grades. A parent’s ability to separate signs of substance abuse from normal behavioral changes in those years can mean the difference between a child’s happy, productive adulthood and a future laden with depression and a host of other problems.
Substance abuse is alarmingly common among today’s youth. According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at the U.S. Department of Justice, by the 8th grade, 52 percent of adolescents have consumed alcohol, 41 percent have smoked cigarettes, and 20 percent have used marijuana. Additionally, half of all high school seniors report drinking alcohol in the past 30 days with a third reporting being drunk at least once in the same period.
Teens who use drugs and alcohol regularly or episodically — meaning they use them in abundance whenever they can get them — could suffer both short- and long-term harm. Depending on the substance, the child could experience cognitive thinking and memory problems, chemical imbalances, sleep disturbances, appetite changes and mood disruption.
Because adolescence is such a turbulent time with so many physical and emotional changes anyway, parents need to be especially watchful to detect substance abuse issues. The most common signs include:
- isolating or withdrawing from family and friends,
- depression, fatigue and emotional instability,
- plummeting grades or irregular school attendance,
- disregard for household rules and curfews,
- dramatic changes in weight, eating and sleeping patterns,
- a new group of friends,
- bloodshot eyes or consistently runny nose,
- evidence of lying or secrecy,
- missing household money, medication or alcohol,
- unusual smells on breath and clothes.
If you detect any of these signs — or especially a combination of them — it’s critical to have your child evaluated. Regardless of whether your child is actually abusing substances, these signs could indicate other serious physical or emotional problems.
You can start with your family doctor who can rule out any other physical conditions or illnesses and a chemical dependence therapist who can help determine the extent of the problem. The Coulee Council on Addictions is another good, local resource, providing initial information and referral, crisis management, intervention and a variety of other services.
It’s important to remember that substance abuse is treatable and can be stopped, sometimes even with simple changes at home. In many cases, kids will need additional help, such as support groups, psychotherapy, treatment programs and family counseling — all of which can be found locally — to return to normal functioning.
Whether your child is abusing or you just want to minimize the chances he or she will, the strategy is the same: Pay attention. Know your children, know their friends, and pay close attention to their behavior. Make the time to drive your kids to and from events. Above all, talk with them about anything and everything, including drugs and alcohol.
Research from the Partnership for a Drug-Free America indicates that kids who learn a lot about the risks of drugs at home are up to half as likely as their peers to try or use drugs. So simply by talking to your kids about the dangers of drug use, you can help them to be drug free.
As published in the October 2008 Edition of the Holmen Courier and Onalaska Community Life.