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Risks of Teen Addiction and Solutions that Exist

by with No Comment AddictionTeenagers

If you’re the parent of a teen, it’s important to be aware of the risks of teen addiction. The problem of addiction affects teens of all socio and economic backgrounds, and understanding the risks and possible treatments can help you take swifter action to get your teenage son or daughter the help that’s needed.

The Mental Health Factor

Teens who suffer from mental health problems are often more prone to addiction. Depression, anxiety and other struggles with mental health can entice more teens to use drugs and alcohol, to try to cope with their mental and emotional anguish. Young people who struggle with thoughts of suicide are also often likelier to fall into addiction.

Societal Influences

Young people are often influenced by their environment even more so than adults, and certain negative influences can increase a teen’s chances of engaging in dangerous practices. If your teen sees their friends using drugs or alcohol, your son or daughter may succumb to peer pressure and start using these harmful substances themselves as a way to feel “cool.” Abuse and bullying are other factors that can lead teens to start abusing substances as a coping mechanism. The problem may be compounded further if a teen sees adults using drugs and alcohol regularly.

Possible Treatment Alternatives

Different treatment methods exist to help teens overcome their addictions, and the right method for your teen will depend on his or her specific needs and the level of their addiction. Some teens have experienced success by completing 12-step programs or other types of outpatient care. Inpatient residential care gives teens with addiction challenges the chance to live in an addiction treatment center while having 24/7 access to care and more intensive therapy options that what most outpatient treatment facilities provide.

The Power of Parental Support

Your support will be paramount to your teen’s recovery. Without the proper parental support, teens often have more difficulties completing their treatment plans and often relapse into addiction. It’s always important to keep an open line of communication so that your teen can talk to you whenever he or she has questions or needs additional support. You should be willing to discuss topics that might be uncomfortable, as these issues may be related directly to your teen’s addiction challenges.

Teens can overcome their addictions more effectively with the right resources and parental guidance. Doing whatever is necessary to curb your teen’s addiction will help your son or daughter lead a healthier life throughout adulthood.

How to Recognize and Treat Addiction in Your Teens

How to Recognize and Treat Addiction in Your Teens

by with No Comment Addiction

An addiction is an incredibly complicated disease that can bring your child’s life to a grinding halt. That is why you must always keep an eye out for the early warning signs of addiction and seek out help right away if you believe that your teenager is struggling with this disease.

Social Isolation

One of the most common signs of teenage substance abuse is social isolation. As the addiction becomes stronger, you might notice that your child no longer wants to spend time with their family or go out with friends. An addiction can also make you lose interest in activities that you once loved. Over the course of a few months, abusing those substances could become the most important thing in their life, and you need to reach out if you want them to avoid long-term problems.

Aggressive or Combative Behavior

You are sure to get into at least a few arguments with your teenager over the years, but your relationship with one another should be mostly positive. If they are struggling with an addiction, then all of your interactions could become hostile or confrontational. There may even come a point when they act aggressively if you even bring up the idea that they might have a problem. While beating an addiction is never going to be easy, professional rehab services are more effective than ever.

Get Them Counseling

Once you have confirmed that your child is struggling with an addiction, you need to contact an organization such as Lifeline right away. Getting your child counseling is going to be vital to their recovery, and you want to find a program that was specifically designed for teenagers. In addition to one-on-one counseling, your child might also benefit from group therapy, family therapy, and short-term inpatient services.

Support Them Along the Way

One of the best things that you can do for your teenager is support them as much as possible during their recovery. Overcoming an addiction is a long-term process, and your child is going to need support from those they love the most. You should also make sure that your child is surrounded by positive and healthy people who are going to give them good examples to follow.

After discovering that your child is struggling with an addiction, you are going to experience a wide range of emotions. While it might be tempting to lash out or argue, it is important to remember that your teen needs support and love if they are going to overcome this disease and move on with their life.

HELP YOUR CHILD BUILD CONFIDENCE AND A GLOBAL MINDSET EARLY.