If you are a parent of a teenager today, you face challenges in keeping your teen safe from dangers that may not have been there for your parents. For example, while there have been alcohol abuse and underage drinking as well as drugs on college campuses in the 1970’s, the pervasiveness of underage drinking and drugs in our culture now is unparalleled. Parents must be constantly aware that their own child could be facing a barrage of drug abuse options today.
And many of these options start with underage drinking.
One article states that drugs which are commonly abused by teens today include “alcohol, tobacco products, marijuana, cold medications, inhalants, depressants, stimulants, narcotics, hallucinogens, PCP, ketamine, Ecstasy, and anabolic steroids.” Not only those, but use of prescription pain killers, such as Oxycontin, hydrocodone and other opiate-type drugs are becoming epidemic on the American landscape as more lives today are claimed by prescription drug abuse than even traffic fatalities.
This is a new epidemic of some proportion, fueled by early alcohol use like underage drinking that is often supported and not stopped by family members and other adults.
Another component is also legal prescriptions for drugs, legally manufactured by the pharmaceutical companies, and peddled by legal medical practitioners. Profit and greed seem to have outweighed common sense, a sense of decency and the will to protect our children.
As a parent you may want to know what to look for to determine if your teen is facing depression or drug and alcohol abuse issues. As depression may lead to alcohol abuse or underage drinking, alcohol abuse may lead to drug abuse, and drug abuse may make depression symptoms even worse, it is a very good idea to be alert to the following signs or symptoms.
Symptoms Of Underage Drinking Or Excessive Alcohol Use
Since underage drinking is gateway to drug use her are some of the symptoms and warning signs of teen alcohol abuse which include:
Strong smell of alcohol on the teen.
Reddening of the whites of eyes.
Paranoia
Extreme sleepiness or sleeplessness.
Seemingly excessive happiness while intoxicated followed by a “crash.”
Seizures
Memory Loss
Increased Appetite
Missing important appointments or truancy from school.
Discolored fingertips, lips or teet.
Irritability
Signs and symptoms of teenage depression include:
Restlessness and agitation.
Feelings of worthlessness and guilt.
A lack of enthusiasm.
Tearfulness and frequent crying, sadness or hopelessness.
Suicidal thoughts.
Irritability, anger or hostility, rage.
Loss of interest in activities.
A normal adolescent goes through “ups and downs” it seems, but the severity and duration of the symptoms would indicate if a deeper problem exists.
The issues facing teens today are challenging, but many exhibit good judgment and seem to have the backup of a strong family, which helps to proof them up against the perils of drug abuse.
The Drug Narconon Program Offers Solution To Underage Drinking & Drug Use
If you see the signs above, and you think your teen may be walking down the road of alcohol abuse, there is still hope for them. At more than fifty Narconon drug program and alcohol rehabilitation centers all over the world, people with drug addiction have been recovering and finding long-lasting sobriety for more than forty five years.
The Narconon drug program can even help you to identify if your child has an actual drug problem, and advise you on how to approach the subject with your teenager. If it turns out there is a drug problem, the Narconon drug program offers a solution that does not use more drugs as part of the addiction treatment., Instead, it offers a philosophy of recovery that makes sense for many families.
By first addressing the physical aspects of addiction to drugs, the Narconon drug program allows a person to recover their physical health and regain a focus and a more optimistic outlook on life. Then, one studies at Narconon at one’s own pace through several different courses in the life skills portion of the program. The program may take from three to five months to complete, but this is actually a short time to commit to having a drug-free and productive life. Seventy percent of Narconon graduates stay drug free and sober, and many go on to help others learn the skills that are needed for them to achieve long-lasting sobriety.
Find out all the details of the drug Narconon program, and contact someone who can effectively help your teen with drug abuse before it is too late.
Resources:
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm
http://www.medicinenet.com/teen_drug_abuse/index.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mhb39BI-7OY&feature=related