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Drug Abuse Teen
Drug Abuse Teen is a term many parents are searching the internet for these days. Here you will find insightful information to help assist you in keeping you children drug free in addition to knowing what to look for if you suspect your child is using drugs. Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in a variety of ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often don.t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.
Here are some physical warning signs regarding Teen Drug Abuse:
changes friends
smell of alcohol or marijuana on breath or body
unexplainable mood swings and behavior
negative, argumentative, paranoid or confused, destructive, anxious
over-reacts to criticism acts rebellious
sharing few if any of their personal problems
doesn't seem as happy as they used to be
overly tired or hyperactive
drastic weight loss or gain
unhappy and depressed
cheats, steals
always needs money, or has excessive amounts of money
sloppiness in appearance
Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop an addiction, moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others. Adolescence is often a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up or to fit in. It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.
When it comes to Teen Drug Abuse, the old saying holds true, an ounce of prevention is worth so much more than a pound of cure. Follow these tips on preventing Teen Drug Abuse and you will enjoy a drug-free family.
1) Be there for your teen when he needs to get out of a bad situation.
Be the scapegoat: .I can.t do that, my parents would kill me!. Or be the parent who will pick up your teen without repercussions if he finds the party he.s gone too has drugs available or her date has been drinking.
2) Get to know your teen.s friends and their parents on a first name basis.
This will help you know what your teen is doing and you may make a good friend to boot!
3) Keep connected in the after school hours.
If you can.t be home with your teen, call and leave notes. Have another adult supervise your teen or sign him up for an after school program. If these things aren.t possible, establish a routine for your teenager and keep him busy during this time.
4) Talk to your teen often about drugs and Teen Drug Abuse.
Use ice breakers from television shows or the radio in the car. Remember these are conversations, not lectures.
5) Get your teen involved in extra-curricular activities.
Schools offer sports or clubs and community organizations offer classes and youth groups. These will help him mold his identity in a positive way and give him less time doing nothing and becoming bored. Studies have shown teens that have less time to just hang out are less likely to do drugs.
6) Ask questions when your teen makes plans to go out.
Who will he be with, where is he going, what will he be doing, etc. Then check up on him. Call other parents and do this together.
7) Be a role model.
If you drink, drink responsibly - and don.t ever use illegal drugs.
8) Unite your family against drugs using strong family beliefs.
Establish that your family doesn.t use drugs. Not that you will shun your child should he make a mistake, but that your family believes there are other healthier ways to enjoy life and fix problems rather than escaping into a drug haze.
9) Connect with your teen by doing things together as a family.
Make this a routine outing and have your teen help plan it. Eat family meals together. Studies have shown that kids who enjoy dinner together with their parents on a normal basis are less likely to become involved with drugs.
10) Drop any baggage you may be carrying.
Don.t allow the mistakes you made as a teenager or young adult to influence your teen in a negative way. Tap into the mature adult you.ve become and let the past go.
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