When we think about our future generation, about the last thing we would want to contemplate is losing our teens to addiction. But now, a French university study finds most alcohol, drug abuse starts in teen years. At this time, as many as three million teens meet the criteria for alcohol abuse, meaning that they are experiencing damage due to their drinking but they continue to abuse the drug. This and other statistics included in this study indicate the degree to which drug education in schools, churches and the home has failed.
This study and others before it have found that the most common age that our youth initiate drug use is fourteen. Many youth begin drinking even earlier. Whenever a study finds most alcohol, drug abuse starts in the teen years; our young people are very often starting their substance abuse before they have gained the experience to make adult decisions. Surveys have found that they abuse drugs and alcohol to help them cope or overcome the problems in their lives [ref: http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/04/02/drug-alcohol-abuse-common-among-us-teens-study-finds] .
When using drugs or alcohol, they may feel less shy or more confident, or may feel like they can fit in with better with a group they feel is desirable. They may feel less stressed about school or problems in the home. But what they don’t understand yet is how drugs can disable them from being able to get a good education, achieve career goals, or simply be happy.
The question of addiction is secondary. As teens accumulate drugs in the body, they become less able to focus, concentrate, complete tasks, learn and achieve goals. If they do become addicted to either drugs or alcohol, they stand to lose everything when their lives begin to be devoted to maintaining that addiction.
Demand Reduction Is Needed To Break This Trend
Of course drug sales, purchasing and possession are illegal, but it will never be possible to arrest our way out of this problem. People who cannot resist using more drugs need rehabilitation and those who have not yet become addicted to them need to understand the danger that lies ahead. Drug education that has proven effective needs to be offered to young and grown alike to thwart this growing trend.
At Narconon drug and alcohol centers around the world, staff and volunteers fan out into the community to provide just this type of anti-drug education. A published, peer-reviewed study of the results of this drug education curriculum has shown that this way of educating about drugs and addiction work. Youth receiving this education have lower substance abuse statistics than other youth. This is just one of the tools used by Narconon centers on six continents to prevent addiction. The Narconon program is not sponsored by NA.
Narconon Sauna Program Helps Drive Down Demand
The Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation program is the other front used to drive down demand for drugs like alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs. One phase of the Narconon rehab program uses time in a sauna, moderate daily exercise and nutritional supplements to activate the body’s ability to flush out old drug toxins. After drug abuse, not all residues of drugs are eliminated from the body. Some are stored in the fatty tissues and result in slow, unclear thinking. They can also be involved in the triggering of cravings.
As the Narconon sauna program does its work, a person can regain the brighter outlook and clearer thinking they left behind. Those completing the Narconon sauna phase of recovery often talk about the reduced cravings they experience, even that their cravings are gone completely. Find out how the Narconon sauna program as part of the overall Narconon drug recovery program can help someone you love recover from addiction. Call 1-800-775-8750 today.