Careful observation, open talks keys to preventing substance abuse among teens

“Say no to drugs” and “don’t drink and drive,” are some common slogans you hear given to young crowds to prevent them from abusing substances. Programs like DARE do outreach in schools to keep kids from making bad decisions about drugs and alcohol use. Why is there such a concern? The concern grows from the fact that substance abuse habits often develop during teens years, when kids are very susceptible to peer and other forms of outside pressures. The goal of preventive measures thus is targeted at children and teens, so they can have the tools and knowledge to resist these influences before they can take hold. What can you, as a parent do to help?

The 2017 Monitoring the Future survey published by drugabuse.gov reported the drug use and attitudes among 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in hundreds of schools across the country. There were some relieving trends, with past-year use of illicit drugs other than marijuana holding steady at the lowest levels in over two decades. This breaks down to drug usage at 5.8 percent among 8th graders, 9.4 percent among 10th graders and 13.3 percent among 12th graders. Despite the ongoing opioid crisis among adults, substance abuse among teens is declining. However, parents should remain vigilant as the threat still looms, especially for teens who have a mental illness or family history of substance abuse. Teens are at higher risk as they can find themselves in environments with drugs and alcohol available such as parties, but their judgment and reasoning abilities are underdeveloped. This affects how well they can evaluate issues and the potential consequences.

What exactly is an addiction? Drug addiction is a chronic disease characterized by drug seeking and use that is compulsive, or difficult to control, despite harmful consequences. In cases of addiction, the brain undergoes changes that occur over time with drug use and can damage an addicted person’s self-control and interfere with their ability to resist intense urges to stop taking the drugs. This is the reason people struggling with drug addiction can relapse. Relapse is the return to drug use after an attempt to stop. Most drugs affect the brain's reward circuit by flooding it with the chemical messenger dopamine, the neurochemical that is released when we do something pleasurable and makes us want to do it again. The surges of dopamine in the reward circuit can cause the reinforcement of unhealthy activities like drug use and can lead people to repeat the behavior again and again.

This is important to remember if you are dealing with someone who is struggling with addiction. They will more than likely need professional care which can include rehabilitation, medication, counseling and social support. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent this devastating experience. Parental supervision and honest dialogue are a great way to start. It is important to start having these conversations during the preteen years as influences can start coming your child’s way. Consider asking them what they would do in a situation if they were offered illegal substances. Give them feedback on how they should respond. Share your own experiences with drugs and alcohol growing up as well. Do not worry about coming off as a hypocrite. It would only be hypocritical if you weren’t honest. Your teen will respect and value your honesty and be more likely to take your counsel seriously. If you suspect your teen might already be struggling with substance abuse, look out for some of these symptoms:

• Neglecting other Activities: Spending less time on activities that used to be important (hanging out with family and friends, exercising, pursuing hobbies or other interests) because of the use of alcohol or drugs; drop in performance at school and skipping classes.

• Risk Taking: More likely to take serious risks to obtain one’s drug of choice.

• Relationship Issues: People struggling with addiction are known to act out against those closest to them, particularly if someone is attempting to address their substance abuse problems; complaints from teachers or classmates.

• Secrecy: Wanting to not talk about who they hang out with or talk with. Teens might try to sneak out late at night or after school and not tell you where they have been.

I know this is another hard topic, as it may bring up painful memories from your past. I urge you to confront this issue to prevent history from repeating itself in the lives of your children. I talked about suicide last week and have brought up substance abuse this week as the two share a strong, tragic relationship. Addiction is serious and needs immediate attention and solid preventative measures. Prevention and treatment are possible and hope remains.

For more information on substance abuse, visit www.med.navy.mil/sites/nhcl/Patients/SpCare/Pages/MentalHealth.aspx.