Questions and Answers About Teen Drug Abuse

Do you have questions about teen drug abuse? If so, this article is for you. Consider the following common questions and answers about teenage drug use below.

What is the difference between teen drug abuse, dependency, and addiction?

Teen drug abuse is an early form of drug or alcohol use that may or may not turn into an addiction. It involves the use of an illegal substance or a legal one in an inappropriate way; however, without a dependence on it.

Drug dependency or addiction, on the other hand, is much more severe. The abuser’s drug use spirals out of control, causing him or her to cross the fine line where he or she is no longer using the substance recreationally or to get high, but because his or her body has become dependent on it. The reward center in his or her brain is craving more of the drug(s) to achieve the euphoria it experienced before, and he or she becomes powerless to stop.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), addiction is an actual brain disorder that involves functional changes to the brain circuits involved in reward, stress, and self-control.

What causes teen drug abuse?

Teen brains are a work in progress that do not stop developing until around the age of 25. As a result, adolescents are wired to live in the now, take risks, experiment with new things, and act in impulsive or irrational ways without giving any thought to future consequences.

Teens start experimenting with drugs for many reasons, such as for fun, out of curiosity, to experience a high, to cope with anxiety or emotional pain, to do better in sports, to relax, to lower their inhibitions, to escape, to fit in with a group, or because of peer pressure.

They tend to underestimate the dangers of substance abuse and think that occasional use is safe. They believe that they are immune to problems other people may experience, and that they can stop using them whenever they want to.

How does teen drug abuse impact their brain?

The brain does not develop in a uniform manner. Some parts mature sooner than others, and because the brain is still developing during adolescence, it is more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and other substances than a fully developed adult brain.

The part of a teen’s brain that responds to rewards is fully developed, whereas the prefrontal cortex, which is where executive functions such as planning, weighing the ramifications of an action, and controlling impulses take place, is not yet fully developed. As a result, teens are more prone to pursue pleasure-seeking activities and engage in risky behaviors such as substance abuse.

The reason substance use is especially dangerous during the teen years, when the brain is still maturing, is that it can interfere with the brain’s development process, disturb the neurochemical balance needed for healthy brain function, and cause the brain to start craving the substance that caused the imbalance. As a result, teens who use alcohol or drugs are at greater risk of becoming addicted than people who start using them as adults.

What are the most commonly used drugs?

The most commonly used drugs are alcohol, nicotine products such as cigarettes and vapes; marijuana; prescription drugs such as amphetamines, sedatives, tranquilizers, and opioids; fentanyl-laced drugs; and inhalants such as fumes from glue, nail polish, or other household items.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, by the time teens reach their senior year of high school, almost 70% of them will have tried alcohol, 50% will have taken an illegal drug, and more than 20% will have used a prescription drug inappropriately.

What are some common signs of teen drug abuse?

Personality Changes

• Extreme mood swings
• Acting irresponsibly
• Anger
• Violence
• Disrespectful behavior
• Depression
• Memory lapses
• Trouble concentrating
• Impaired judgment
• Lack of motivation
• Avoiding eye contact
• Withdrawing from family activities
• Requests for money

Physical Changes

• Neglecting physical appearance and personal hygiene
• Sudden weight loss or gain
• Insomnia or excessive sleeping
• Slurred speech
• Bloodshot eyes
• Larger or smaller pupils than usual
• Frequent nosebleeds
• Shaky hands
• Appearing spaced out
• Small track marks on arms, legs, or in the crook of elbows
• Bruises
• Wearing long sleeves even in warm weather
• Smell of alcohol, smoke, or pot on their breath, clothing, or personal items
• Presence of drug paraphernalia in their room

Behavioral Changes

• Delinquent behaviors
• Trouble focusing
• Absenteeism from school and other activities
• Wearing sunglasses indoors
• Frequent use of eye drops and breath mints
• Using incense or air fresheners to hide the smell of smoke
• Dropping old friends and activities and hanging out with a different crowd
• Decline in academic performance at school
• Skipping school
• Stealing money or valuables
• Secretive behavior such as lying about where they are going or what they are doing
• Claiming to have lost possessions they valued
• Challenging curfews

How can I help my teen avoid drugs?

Prepare yourself to be able to answer questions by educating yourself on the most common substances and the ways they can affect your teen.

Be honest Teens need to feel cared enough about to be told the truth about drugs. Have an honest, open conversation with them about the dangers of experimenting with substances rather than just glossing over the topic. This is important information that they need to be able to make informed choices.

Tell them what the consequences of being a drug abuser or an addict are, and how their actions can seriously affect their health and their lives. Unless you discuss these risks with your teens, they may not see any harm in experimenting with drugs, alcohol, or other substances.

Focus on harm reduction rather than on social stigmas Help your teens understand the risks and show them how to research things like how drugs are mislabeled, misidentified drugs that result in overdoses, and the dangers of laced drugs. They should also know how to recover from an overdose and how to get help if they need it.

Start conversations early Talk to your teens about everything concerning drugs, including peer pressure, and how the negative influence drugs can have on their body and mind is permanent. Many teens experiment with drugs before they know anything about them.

Teach them not only about what drugs can do to them physically, but also how they affect them emotionally as well. If teens learn about the dangers early, and that drug addiction can even come from prescribed medications, teen drug abuse may not be as much of a problem.

Share your personal experiences, and if you have a family history of substance abuse, be honest about it.

Avoid lecturing your teens or trying to use scare tactics Seek to understand where they are coming from and talk to them in ways that will have a lasting and effective impact. Listen to their questions and opinions and discuss the messages your teen sees or hears on social media that make drug use seem normal or even glamorous with them, and do it without judging, labeling, or shaming.

Keep the lines of communication open and create a safe, nonjudgmental atmosphere where your teens feel safe talking to you openly and honestly about the topic and are not afraid to ask questions. Ask open-ended questions, listen without interrupting, respect your teen’s point of view, and show him or her you care and are concerned for their safety.

Help your teen resist peer pressure by explaining that real friends won’t try to make them do something they don’t want to do. Give them words to avoid temptation and stand up for themselves. Discuss what a healthy friendship looks like and role-play different scenarios with a range of possible responses.

Establish clear family rules and consequences, and set a good example for your teen.

If you have questions about this article on teen drug abuse or would like to set up an appointment to meet with one of the faith-based counselors in our online directory, please don’t hesitate to give us a call.