It’s so common for teenagers to cleverly hide their substance abuse from their parents that those people who should be the first to know may be among the last. Parents are not on the lookout for a study that finds most alcohol, drug abuse starts in teen years.
Many parents feel unprepared to educate their children on underage drinking or drug use. One survey found that 28% of parents felt that there is very little parents can do to prevent their children from using alcohol, for example.
But still, most parents try. At least they do when it comes to alcohol or marijuana use. The majority of parents advise children against using these drugs. Only 36% of parents talked to their children about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and slightly more discussed drugs like heroin and cocaine. Since parents’ opinions carry more weight than they may realize, the lack of discussion about some drugs can result in a study that finds most alcohol, drug abuse starts in teen years.
But some studies have found that teens who begin to drink before the age of 15 are much more likely to develop problems with alcohol than other teens. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse has reported that if a person can be prevented from abusing substances until they are 21 years old, they are virtually certain never to do so.
New Survey Finds Drug and Alcohol Abuse Starts Young
Nationally, ten thousand young people (13-18) were asked about their lifetime alcohol or drug abuse. Three quarters had drunk alcohol by the time they were 18 years old, with 15% meeting the criteria for alcohol dependence. Forty-two percent of these young people were using drugs, and the median start of drug use and alcohol use was 14 years for both.
A slightly later start of drug use was associated with a lower chance of drug dependence.
Drug Treatment Can Save the Day When Prevention Fails
Even when a parent gives drug prevention excellent attention, some teens will abuse drugs anyway. The peer pressure that child is up against may be overwhelming. In other words, the culture of drug use that young person faces may steer him or her directly toward substance abuse and addiction problems. Related to alcohol abuse, many young people say it is fun to drink, a smaller number report that they can “forget their troubles or deal with problems at home or deal with pressures at school better when they drink”.
When these escapes are relied on too heavily and the substance abuse goes on for too long, addiction may be the result. Then the person does not have a choice on whether or not to use drugs or alcohol. The cravings and dependence are going to drive further use.
That is the time for drug rehab. At Narconon drug and alcohol rehabilitation programs, people who fell into this trap get their lives back. They learn again how to make sober decisions and how to face their live squarely, not escape in to drug or alcohol abuse.
Narconon Reviews Show that This Program Gets Results
It’s very common that though heartbreaking Ð for families to send a young member to two, three, even as many as a dozen rehabs, trying to achieve lasting sobriety. It’s not that the young person doesn’t want to succeed; in many cases, they do. It’s that the core qualities that cause the person to be trapped in addiction are not fully addressed in many drug rehabs so the person may relapse as a result. Families often provide Narconon reviews that show that this program gave them the help they were looking for, while other types of rehabs like NA did not.
According to Narconon reviews from families, each person on this drug rehab program has the time to rebuild a life that addiction destroyed. Each person progresses through this program at his or her own rate; there is no set time limit. No one in recovery is ever told that relapse is part of recovery. It is known that addiction can be overcome when you address the right causes, so this program gives each person the help to do so.
Find out all about the Narconon program located in a dozen locations around the US and in thirty other cities around the world. Call 1-800-775-8750 today.
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