This article seeks to guide you on:
- The science behind teen addiction
- Common types of substances that can be abused
- Their health effects
- How to help your teenager deal with teen drug addiction effectively.
Understanding Teen Addiction
Understanding teen addiction is never easy. As teenagers mature, and enter into the unique period of development known as adolescence, A teenager’s brain is highly susceptible to addiction. Some studies suggest that increased brain development in pleasure centers increases risk-taking behavior.
Teenagers are more likely to be at risk of drug experimentation and abuse since they perceive the social benefits of drug use. Social and environmental factors often influence drug use in teenagers as teens want to be more acceptable to their peers and engage in the latest trends. The social effects of drug use can create a pattern of drug use and abuse that may lead to addiction.
Common addictive substances like alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and other drugs have been shown to enhance the brain’s reward circuitry. Addictive substances stimulate these reward pathways to produce a drug-induced ‘high.’
Substances like ketamine, marijuana, opiates, and amphetamines act on synapses associated with the nucleus, while nicotine and ethanol act on synapses associated with the ventral tegmental area. These areas are usually responsible for other rewards but are hijacked by addictive substances altering the brain chemistry of the teenager. Addiction sets in when the teen constantly chases this high to induce pleasure.
Common Types Of Addictive Substances
If your teenager is abusing drugs, you may wonder what the most common drugs they might abuse are. Factors such as availability and costs affect which drugs teenagers can commonly abuse. The most common drugs include alcohol, marijuana, prescription medicine, nicotine, inhalants, tranquilizers, and opioids.
Alcohol
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, more than half of high school seniors abused alcohol in 2016. The prevalence of alcohol abuse in teens is not surprising since it is widely used by adults at home and in social gatherings. It is also perceived as a low-risk drug because it is legal for adults to purchase compared to other drugs like opioids. Teenagers also abuse alcohol because of how it is marketed and societally used as a fun drug for parties.
Marijuana
Marijuana is the second most popular substance among teenagers, and teen marijuana use disorder has increased over the years due to its growing popularity among young adults and teenagers. Marijuana is mainly consumed through smoking or infusion in food substances such as pastries and cakes. Its psychoactive compound is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, popularly referred to as THC. The compound is responsible for the euphoric high and reduced stress associated with marijuana.
Nicotine
Another commonly abused substance is nicotine. Its most popular form of consumption is smoking, either as a cigarette or an e-cigarette. Teen substance abuse has grown due to the increased popularity of vapes and other e-cigarettes. Vaping has grown in popularity among teenagers over the last few years, increasing the prevalence of nicotine abuse in teenagers. Its low cost and accessibility are the main reasons for its growing popularity. E-cigarettes are also marketed as safer alternatives than traditional cigarettes, which have been linked with various cancers. You can check out our guide on teen nicotine addiction to learn more.
Prescription Medication
Prescription medication is a wide pool of substances for treating various medical conditions. These include drugs such as Adderall, oxycodone, and codeine. These drugs are not as commonly abused as the ones mentioned above due to their high risk and cost. Without a prescription, these drugs are highly controlled and present a high risk to teens chasing a high.
Health Effects Of Teen Addiction
Teen substance abuse can have varying health effects on teens. These include physical and mental health effects.
Physical Health Effects
Teen substance abuse can have dire long-term consequences on the body. Different drugs have different long-term effects, including damage to the respiratory, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular systems. Some drugs also affect the brain in the long term causing issues of cognitive impairment and brain cell death.
Cardiovascular system damage
Drugs such as cocaine are categorized as stimulants. This means they stimulate the body to release hormones that increase cell and muscle activity. Cocaine and specifically teen cocaine addiction has been linked to cardiovascular damage since the continued release of these stimulating hormones may cause heart muscles to fatigue. This may cause instances of heart arrhythmia and cardiac arrest after prolonged use.
Liver damage
Heroin, opioids, weed and alcohol are the main contributors to liver damage. The liver is responsible for breaking down ethanol and opioids, making its cells susceptible to damage due to prolonged use. Alcohol is particularly notorious for causing a disease known as liver cirrhosis.
Respiratory damage
This type of damage occurs from drugs that are administered through smoking. Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, cocaine, and marijuana can cause respiratory damage. People who smoke are more likely to contract diseases such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, EVALI, and lung cancer. Individuals with asthma may also worsen their condition by taking opioids which depress breathing, causing shortness of breath.
Gastrointestinal damage
This is a common health concern in people who abuse drugs such as alcohol. Alcohol causes increased acidity in the digestive tract and may cause acid reflux, constipation, and constant stomach aches.
Kidney damage
Many drugs can cause kidney damage in the long term. Kidney failure is caused by increased toxins in the bloodstream, muscle tissue breakdown, and dehydration linked to drug use.
Cognitive effects
Drug use and abuse have been linked with cognitive effects such as brain cell death from toxins, impaired cognitive function, and changes in brain pathways which may decrease some brain connections.
Mental Health Effects Of Teen Addiction
Teenage drug abuse is linked to teen mental health issues. Teens abusing drugs are at higher risk of developing mental health conditions such as teen depression, antisocial personality disorder, teen anxiety, learning disability, and suicidal thoughts. These mental health effects of drug abuse are connected with the brain reward system and addiction.
Drug addiction may destroy interpersonal relationships between teenagers, their families, and friends, making them more at risk of developing depression. Rewiring of brain connections may also induce the onset of Schizophrenia, teen borderline personality disorder, OCD, and PTSD in teens.
It is estimated that about 60-75 percent of teens who abuse alcohol or any other drug have a co-occurring mental health disorder. Co-occurring disorders are disorders that occur due to the abuse of alcohol or other drugs. Drugs may cause the onset or worsening of the symptoms of a co-occurring disorder and may also hinder the treatment of these disorders. Drug abuse and co-occurring disorders form mutual reinforcing cycles, which can be hard to break. Depression may cause drug abuse, and withdrawal from drugs may cause depression.
Overdose: Risks and Prevention
An overdose is when you take more than the recommended amount of something; it often involves a drug.
An overdose may have adverse health effects and even death. You can recognize an overdose if your teen presents with the following signs:
- Discolored, often blue, lips and fingernails
- Constricted pupils
- Slow and shallow breathing, or no breathing at all
- Cold, pale, and clammy skin
- Unresponsiveness
- Choking, gurgling sounds, or snoring
- Slow heart rate
Several factors may cause an overdose. The following factors increase the risk of an overdose:
- Change in one’s tolerance may prompt the user to increase the dose they usually take
- A change in supplier may increase the risk of overdose due to different ‘cutting’ methods and substances
- Mixing drugs such as stimulants and depressors
- Poor monitoring
- Association with delinquent peer groups
- Mental health issues
- Trauma
If you suspect your teenager is overdosing on any substance, call 911 immediately for prompt medical intervention.
How can you help prevent an overdose? Overdose prevention can be critical in helping your teenager. There are various ways of preventing an overdose. We will first discuss the use of naloxone since there has been a surge in teen opioid addiction in the United States.
Naloxone is what is known as an opioid antagonist. It works by binding to opioid receptors in the body to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose quickly. It can restore breathing in a person experiencing an overdose.
Examples of opioids are fentanyl, oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, and morphine. Fentanyl is widely considered to increase the risks of an overdose since about 2 milligrams of it can cause an overdose.
Naloxone can be administered as a nasal spray or through an injection to a person showing signs of an overdose. Carrying a naloxone spray can go a long way in preventing an opioid overdose.
Another way of preventing an overdose is through exploring harm reduction strategies. Harm reduction is a strategy where drug users are provided with a safe space to use their drugs. It is typically a clinic that drug users visit to use their drugs with medical supervision.
A trained medical practitioner monitors the amount of drugs the individual wants to administer and provides the user with a new needle for use. This prevents overdoses by strictly monitoring the amount of drug that is administered.
Harm reduction also prevents sharing needles and the transmission of diseases like hepatitis and HIV among drug users.
If your teenager is exhibiting signs of an overdose, call 911/988 immediately for medical assistance. You can also employ several strategies to respond to an overdose, including:
- Supporting the teen’s breathing by performing rescue breathing or administering oxygen
- Administering naloxone if you suspect it is an opioid overdose
- Put your teen in the recovery position. The recovery position involves laying them on their side if they can breathe independently.
- Keep your teenager warm
- Stay with them during this moment as you wait for medical assistance.
- You should avoid forcefully stimulating the person by slapping or putting them in a cold bath. Do not try and make them vomit ingested drugs since this may increase the risk of choking or inhaling vomit into the lungs.
Treatment for Teen Addiction
If you suspect your teen suffers from addiction, it might be time to seek teen therapy or a different teen treatment program. At Key Healthcare, we specialize in teen mental health treatment. We offer a variety of different evidence-based treatment modalities and programs to treat chronic addiction in teenagers.
Our services range from teen intensive outpatient programs to residential treatment centers for teens. These programs are designed to help teens overcome their addictions and lead healthy lifestyles.
To choose the best treatment option, you need to consider several factors, including the type of drugs your teen might be abusing, what treatment is suitable for your teenager, and the level of care your teen needs. These factors will help you choose the best treatment for your teen.
At Key Healthcare, we provide services suitable for every level of care the teen needs.
Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP)
Our teen intensive outpatient program is designed to assist teens dealing with addiction by providing a safe and supportive environment that promotes healthy coping mechanisms. It is designed for teens aged between 14-17 and runs for between 4-12 weeks, depending on the needed level of care.
The program is tailored towards improving teen healthcare by providing individual teen therapy, teen group therapy, and teen family therapy. This program also provides academic support and aftercare services for teens experiencing a relapse.
During individual and group therapy, we offer several therapy approaches focusing on behavior that might be causing the teen distress. The teen can learn how to cope with stress and substance abuse through behavioral therapy. They can also interact with individuals experiencing the same to share their struggles and build community connections.
IOP also offers family therapy that allows family members to participate in the teen’s recovery process. This helps family members understand how to help the teen during the recovery process and how to deal with the addiction.
At Key Healthcare, we also offer academic support as part of the treatment process to ensure that the teenager does not fall behind in school. Our academic coaches and tutors help teens stay focused on their academics.
IOP vs. Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)
The teen partial hospitalization program (PHP) offered at Key Healthcare is more vigorous than the intensive outpatient program (IOP). It helps teens recover from addiction by offering a structured environment. PHP differs from inpatient services, such as a teen residential treatment center (RTC), since it allows teenagers to make their own living arrangements. It offers family participation, educational/academic assistance, and group and individual therapy.
Residential Treatment Center (RTC)
At Key Healthcare, we offer an RTC program to help teens recover from addiction. This intense program takes 45-60 days at our Malibu Center. It is designed for teens who may pose a threat to themselves or others.
They may also need a high level of care due to prolonged drug use. The program uses treatment methods such as acceptance and commitment therapy, comprehensive teen dialectal behavior therapy (DBT), and teen cognitive behavioral therapy. These treatment methods are designed to help the teen learn how to cope with stress and break the addiction cycle.
These methods are evidence-based and are very effective in treating addiction in teens. Our teen residential treatment program also offers individual therapy, group therapy for teens, and family therapy for teens to ensure the teen expresses themselves on the underlying issues that may have caused the addiction.
We also offer holistic and recreational activities such as teen yoga therapy, teen art therapy, teen music therapy, and hiking. These activities enable teens to build community bonds with their peers and help them develop healthy coping habits.
Our RTC program also offers academic support to ensure teens do not fall behind on schoolwork. Our academic coaches and tutors ensure your teen stays on track to achieve their academic goals.
This treatment is offered in our Malibu Facility.
Treatment Steps For Addiction In Teens
The first step in treating addiction is acknowledging that substance abuse has become a problem in your teen’s life. The addiction may have impaired their school or home life. Once your teen has acknowledged this, they need to recognize the impact of substance abuse on their life.
The next step in treatment is the acceptance to receive treatment. If your teen has accepted to receive treatment for their condition, it is important to look for treatment options such as Key Healthcare which specializes in treating teen issues.
After acceptance of treatment, detoxification is the next step. During this step, the body is cleared of all toxins while limiting withdrawal reactions associated with drug and substance abuse. During detoxification, medications that limit withdrawal symptoms are used.
Teens also receive counseling and behavioral therapy during and after detoxification. These therapies range from individual to family participation to ensure the teenager receives all the help they need to recover from addiction. Therapy is a continuous process and happens all through the treatment process.
The next step in the treatment process is creating a therapy community to discuss the struggles of drug addiction. It involves residential treatment options for teens with severe addiction.
Lastly, coupled with medication, teens may also receive recovery therapy that follows up on the teen’s progress to avoid a relapse.
Barriers to Treatment and Recovery
Teen Addiction treatment can be very difficult. This is because teens are more likely to develop addiction compared to adults. Some barriers may present themselves to hinder the treatment process. These barriers include a complicated care system, limited treatment resources, lack of mental health services, insufficient capacity to handle treatment, costs, stigma, and motivation for change.
A complicated system of care is a barrier to addiction treatment since teenagers find it difficult to navigate the system. It involves medication, case management, outpatient and inpatient treatment options, counseling, and many more programs. It can be very difficult to navigate this complex system of care.
Many treatment facilities often lack the resources to handle treatment. A lack of human resources may limit how a facility handles care. Costs may also hinder treatment since parents may be concerned about the cost implication of treatment.
Teens also face stigma that may prevent them from seeking help. They wonder what their peers will think of them being engaged in an addiction treatment program. An addiction treatment program may make them less desirable to be in their friendship groups, forcing them into isolation.
Social and Legal Consequences of Teen Addiction
Addiction can lead to strained interpersonal relationships between teens and the community. People often want to distance themselves from drug users creating strained relationships. Addiction can also worsen mental health conditions such as depression, conduct problems, and personality disorders. These conditions may significantly affect the teenager’s quality of life.
Addiction may also come with legal consequences depending on the type of drug being abused. Regulated substances such as oxycodone, fentanyl, and Adderall may land your teen in jail if they are found in possession.
Support for Families and Teen Addicts
How can you support teen addicts as a family? There are many ways to help teens struggling with addiction. These include:
Treat them with care and consistency. Parents will often pry into their teens’ lives when they are not ready to discuss such matters with them. As a parent, it can be a good idea to treat your teenager with care to ensure they feel safe and protected. This will help them open up about their troubles and help them recover.
Remind them it is not their fault. Teens struggling with addiction will often blame themselves for not being able to break out of the addiction cycle. Reminding them that it is not their fault will relieve some weight off their shoulders, giving them a better chance of breaking their addiction.
Think about the ‘why’ and look beyond their behavior. Asking yourself what might have caused the addiction and why will help you better support your teenager through treatment. This will also help them learn how to deal with their emotions in a healthy way.
Another support mechanism is creating support groups for both parents and teenagers. Teens struggling with substance abuse can join support groups to discuss their struggles freely. This helps them feel understood by their peers.
Support groups can also be a good tool for dealing with teen codependency. Codependency is when someone feels like they cannot live without another person. With support groups, teens can form new connections with their peers and deal with their codependency issues.
It can be challenging to handle teens struggling with addiction. Parents can also join support groups to learn different ways of helping their struggling teenagers. Since everyone in the support group is struggling with the same issue, parents can build a stronger community to help each other support their teens struggling with addiction.
The Importance of Support Groups
Support groups are one of the best forms of post-treatment support. They help teenagers face their challenges as a group. As a group, they find it easier to deal with the feelings that may trigger their substance abuse. Support groups also lower anxiety and depression. Support groups help teenagers cope better with teen social anxiety and depression since they form connections with their peers.
Support groups keep teens accountable and in check. To avoid a relapse, teenagers need a strong support system that keeps them accountable. The reward of receiving milestone chips during recovery helps teens feel accountable and not fall back into the same addiction cycle. Support groups also act as motivators and cheering squads. Being motivated to achieve your goals helps teens grow in confidence and self-esteem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, teens are more susceptible to addiction because their brain reward receptors are developing faster than other parts. Since drugs target these reward pathways, teenagers can easily fall into an addiction pattern.
Addiction can also lead to an overdose. To prevent an overdose, look for symptoms such as choking, paleness in the face, cold skin, and depressed breathing. Once you notice these signs, call 911 for immediate medical intervention and put the teenager in a recovery position.
Seek addiction treatment from trusted providers such as Key Healthcare for teens struggling with addiction. Offer support to teens during recovery to help them develop healthy coping mechanisms and fight addiction.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can addiction cause permanent health problems in teens?
Yes, addiction can cause permanent health problems for teens. These problems include E-cigarette and Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), brain damage, and brain cell death.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of inpatient vs. outpatient treatment for teen addiction?
- Inpatient treatments offer a much more rigorous addiction treatment plan than outpatient services.
- Inpatient services are designed for severe addiction problems, while outpatient services are geared toward mild addiction.
- Outpatient services can be received anywhere, but inpatient services can only be administered in specialized facilities.
- The costs of outpatient care are less compared to inpatient treatment.
How long does treatment for teen addiction typically take?
The addiction treatment for teens typically takes 4 weeks. However, this varies between individuals and the severity of the addiction.
How can teens maintain sobriety after treatment?
Teens can maintain sobriety after treatment by joining support groups and avoiding situations that may lead to a relapse.
Can teens develop an addiction after just one use?
Every individual is unique. Teens can develop an addiction depending on various factors like the type of drug they have used, family history, mental health, and traumatic experiences.
What is the legal status of drugs commonly abused by teens?
Common drugs such as alcohol and cigarettes are legal in every state. Alcohol cannot be purchased by anyone under 21, while cigarettes are available for anyone over 18. Recreational marijuana use is legal in some states and prohibited in others.
What are the consequences of teen addiction on academic performance?
Teens struggling with addiction may struggle to focus in school, leading to lower grades and higher absenteeism rates. Drug use and abuse might lead to teens dropping out of school.
