This Article Addresses the Following Issues:
- The definition, risk factors, and causes of teen addiction
- Why teens are vulnerable to addiction
- Physical, social, behavioral, and academic warning signs of teen addiction
- Different consequences of teen addiction
- Intervention and treatment options for teen addiction
- How to support a teen in recovery
It’s normal and justified for parents to worry about their children’s well-being. Addiction is one of the most serious concerns when raising teenagers in the US, as it can lead to poor physical and mental health, strained relationships, and poor academic performance. Every parent must be on the lookout for warning signs of teen addiction, to ensure their child’s well-being and intervene as early as possible.
Some common warning signs include changes in behavior or mood, sudden decline in academic or extracurricular performance, withdrawal from family and friends, secretive behavior, loss of interest in hobbies or activities, increased need for money, physical changes such as bloodshot eyes or weight loss, and unexplained or frequent absences. It is crucial for parents to maintain open communication, educate themselves about substance abuse, and seek professional help if they suspect their teen may be struggling with addiction. Early intervention can significantly increase the chances of successful treatment and long-term recovery. This article will discuss early indicators of teenage addiction and intervention strategies for addicted teenagers.
What is Teen Addiction?
Teen addiction is a brain disorder that causes teenagers to seek habit-forming substances compulsively despite adverse consequences. It may lead to serious cases of teen depression, substance abuse, alcoholism, and other health effects.
Most Common Substances Abused by Teens
The five common drugs abused by teenagers owing to their ease of access include:
- Alcohol
- Marijuana
- Prescription medications
- Spice, also known as K2
- Over-the-counter substances
How Teen Addiction Differs From Adult Addiction
Since their internal rewards systems are underdeveloped, teenagers are more vulnerable than adults when it comes to addiction. The reward system in the brain, specifically the mesolimbic pathway, is responsible for experiencing pleasure and reinforcing certain behaviors. During adolescence, this system is still developing and is more sensitive to the effects of drugs and addictive substances.
The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for decision-making, reasoning, and impulse control teens is also not fully matured in teens. This imbalance between the reward system and the prefrontal cortex can make teens more susceptible to impulsive and risky behaviors, including experimenting with substances. It heavily impacts their brain and may significantly compromise recovery, explaining the difference in treatment options between the two age groups.
Risk Factors for Teen Addiction
The following factors predispose teenagers to addiction:
- Family substance abuse history
- Parental substance abuse
- Mental health issues
- Trauma, such as childhood sexual abuse
- Inadequate school connectedness
- Poor parental supervision and monitoring
- Peer pressure
- Family issues
Causes of Teen Addiction
Genetics
Certain inherited genes in a teenager’s DNA increase their chances of developing a substance use disorder. Such genes are prevalent in families with addiction problems.
Environment
A teenager’s daily environment, such as social situations, home culture, economic status, exposure to substances and alcohol, and the surrounding community and religious organizations, can dictate whether they will be addicted to drugs. Most teenagers with drug-abusing parents take up the habit, ending up addicted.
Mental Health
Certain troubling emotions and teen mental health symptoms can impair teenagers’ judgment and lower their inhibitions, leading to substance use disorder.
Trauma
Adolescents may turn to drugs and substances to cope with the teen trauma reminders of past events such as childhood sexual abuse.
Peer Pressure
Peer pressure is a leading cause of drug addiction among teenagers. Teenagers, in an effort to fit in with their friends, may find themselves tempted to experiment with substances like alcohol or even face the risks associated with teen marijuana addiction. Repeated use may develop into an addiction.
Impact of Accessibility on Teen Addiction
Studies suggest that ease of access to drugs and substances directly and significantly impacts substance use disorder among school-going children, in this case, teenagers.
How Does The Brain Play a Role in Teen Addiction?
Addiction can affect all ages, but teenagers are often more vulnerable to addiction than adults because of their brain development. The first parts of their brain to develop during adolescence are the cerebellum, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens, which control physical activities, emotions, and teen motivation, respectively. The last part to develop is the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for good judgment, impulse control, and rational thoughts. As a result, teenagers who engage in risky impulsive behavior; find it difficult to control their emotions, suffer limited judgment, and prefer exploring new high-excitement activities, making them vulnerable to outside influences that can lead to substance abuse and, subsequently, addiction.
Warning Signs of Teen Addiction
The warning signs of teen addiction are categorized into behavioral, physical, academic, and social.
Behavioral Warning Signs
Look out for the following behaviors if you suspect that your teenager is secretly battling an addiction:
- Manipulation
- Teenager lying
- Teenagers stealing
- Blame shifting
- Abuse
- Aggression
- Making endless excuses
- Use of chewing gums or mints to cover up breath
- Going out often
- Increased absenteeism
- Avoiding eye contact
- Longer duration disappearance
- Constantly locking doors
- Unusual clumsiness
- Short periods of high energy or sleeplessness followed by longer periods of catch-up sleep
Teens may also become more secretive when addicted to substances to prevent revealing their patterns or giving themselves up. Any drastic behavior change should always worry you.
Physical Warning Signs
Physical signs of addiction include:
- Dilated pupils
- Changes in appearance
- Weight loss
- Bloodshot eyes
- Intense nausea
- Breathing problems
- Chills
- Blurred vision
- Slurred speech
- Poor coordination
- Tremors
- Dizziness
- Frequent perspiration
- Seizures
Possible physical health issues caused by addiction include sores and sports around the mouth, skin abrasions, injuries, nosebleeds, stroke, lung disease, heart disease, and infections like HIV/AIDS.
Academic and Social Warning Signs
Addiction has social and academic effects on teenagers. Look out for the following signs:
- Drop in grades
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Change of friends or social circles
- Skipping school
- Disengagement from community activities
Consequences of Teen Addiction
Legal and Financial Consequences
Teenagers can get into problems with the law due to drug abuse and addiction, leading to consequences such as fines and being subjected to the juvenile justice system. Parents may have to foot huge legal fees due to the consequences of their intoxication, such as drunk driving or peace disturbance.
Their financial future may also be ruined if they carry the habit into adulthood due to loss of productivity and income, the cost of maintaining their habit, and healthcare costs. Additionally, it’s important to factor in the cost of teen addiction treatment, which can be extremely high depending on the severity and intensity. of the addiction.
Social and Emotional Consequences
Emotional consequences of addiction in teenagers include mood swings, depression, emotional outbursts, anxiety, and irritability. It may also negatively affect self-esteem, given the stigma associated with addiction and the acts caused by impaired judgment.
Other potential long-term consequences related to addiction that may affect someone socially and emotionally include difficulty finding housing and employment, relationships breakdown, incarceration, and causing harm to oneself and others.
Effects of Addiction on Relationships and Extracurricular Activities
It’s common for teenagers addicted to substances to get into heated arguments with their family members due to defensiveness or hostility caused by withdrawal or intoxication. Most parents and loved ones also blame themselves for their children’s addiction, even though it may not have anything to do with them. Additionally, trust among parents and teenagers may easily break down, leading to strained relationships.
Teenagers addicted to drugs may also lose touch with their friends and stop engaging in extracurricular activities out of fear of stigmatization. This can lead to isolation, further increasing substance abuse.
Intervention and Treatment Options
Let’s look at the different types of addiction treatment and how rehab and family therapy works for teen addiction.
Types of Addiction Treatment Programs
Teen Intensive Outpatient Program
The teen intensive outpatient program offers teenagers a safe and supportive environment to help them develop self-awareness, healthy coping skills, and self-respect. They also build a strong recovery foundation and learn how to cope with stress, manage emotions, develop problem-solving skills, and build healthy relationships. Treatment options used include group and individual therapy.
Teen Partial Hospitalization
At Key Healthcare, we offer a teen partial hospitalization program to treat adolescent substance abuse. It works for low-intensity cases and is usually more thorough than the intensive outpatient program. Teenagers get coordinated multidisciplinary clinical services to help them understand the importance of leading a sober life and coping with temptations. This program can also ignite their passions, helping them stay motivated. Treatment options used are individual therapy, group therapy, and family participation.
Teen Residential Treatment
Teen Residential treatment is the equivalent of rehab. We offer a 45-60 day program in Malibu in a specialized residential facility to help teenagers with drug use disorders bounce back and lead healthy, productive lives. Residential treatment ensures 24/7 care and support to help teenagers recover from heavy drug use. This program uses evidence-based treatment options such as individual teen therapy, teen group therapy, holistic and recreation therapy, and several other types of teen therapy.
Teen Extended Care
An extended care program, also known as a teen rehab aftercare program, offers teenagers the necessary support for recovery and skill development. During the day, they attend mental health and dual diagnosis addiction treatment, returning to a sober living facility at night. It reduces the chances of relapse, increases independence, and helps develop passion and relationship-building.
How Rehab Works for Teen Addiction
During teen rehab, adolescents live in specialized treatment facilities where they are accorded 24/7 care and support to help them overcome their addiction and make a full recovery. They get the necessary professional support as well as a secure and structured environment that equips them with the skills needed to live a healthier life during and after recovery.
Family Therapy and How It Helps
Teen Family therapy allows family members to understand and resolve underlying family issues, leading to better communication and healthier relationships. Family members can therefore work together to help their teenage child recover.
Supporting Your Teen in Recovery
You can help your teenage child recover from drug and substance abuse or addiction by creating a supportive environment, preventing relapse, and upholding effective communication.
How Families Can Create a Supportive Environment for Teens in Recovery
- Making them feel appreciated
- Exuding positivity
- Minimizing criticisms
- Including them in family plans
- Spending time with them
- Applauding them when they do things right
- Being available for conversations
- Participating in their recovery
- Listening without judgment
- Practicing patience
- Modeling a healthy lifestyle that everyone can match
Tips for Effective Communication with a Teen in Recovery
Families need to communicate regularly with recovering teenagers. Here are a few effective tips:
- Listening to them more than you speak
- Listening without judging
- Keeping communication lines open
- Knowing when to give them the privacy they need
- Avoiding yelling or nagging
- Acknowledging and celebrating their achievements
- Apologizing when they are wrong to set a good example
- Choosing what is important to argue over
- Brainstorming solutions with them. Also, you can check out our guide on how to handle teenage drug use.
How Families Can Prevent Relapse
- Helping the teenager in recovery create a balanced lifestyle
- Reframing how the affected party thinks about relapse, i.e., helping them understand that a sobriety lapse is not a personal failure
- Being kind and patient
- Helping the affected family member avoid or manage their triggers
Additional Resources
Finding Help and Support
Are you dealing with a teen addicted to drugs and substances and would like help and support? Kindly reach us at (800) 421-4364. We offer several services and programs to help your teen recover and lead a healthy, fulfilling life. Find more information about teen addiction and teen addiction support here.
How to Talk to Your Teen About Addiction
One way to prevent teenage addiction is to talk to teenagers about it. Here is how you can discuss such a topic with your child:
- Inform your teenager about the talk beforehand so that they are not ambushed. Ensure they know what it will entail so you can be on the same page.
- Let your child know that you are against drug use and that they can use you as an excuse when others pressure them into it.
- Explain the potential effects of drug abuse and why you are against it.
- Be honest and rational during the talk.
- Speak in a way you would like to be spoken to. That is, speak to your teenage child like they are adults.
- Give them a chance to speak too. Do not own the entire conversation
- Let your kids know they can always call you when they are out and need help.
- Make such discussions regular, not a one-time thing. Also, you can check out our guide on
how to communicate with your teenager.
Conclusion
Teenage addiction is a serious issue that should be given the attention it deserves. Parents must therefore be on the lookout for warning signs of drug dependence in teenagers and take action upon noticing them. Remember that addiction is a treatable illness that can be conquered with the right help and support. Don’t give up on your child but instead show them love, support, and understanding as they recover.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Difference Between Experimentation and Addiction in Teens?
Experimentation can be defined as trying once or twice to satisfy one’s curiosity. Unlike addicted teens, those who experiment do not have constant cravings or use drugs and substances to get through the day. However, experimentation can turn into an addiction if unchecked.
What are the Signs of Prescription Medication Addiction in Teens?
Teens addicted to prescription drugs may have the following signs depending on the drug:
- Constipation
- Nausea
- Slowed breathing
- Confusion
- Drowsiness
- A feeling of being high
- Poor coordination
- Increased sensitivity to pain with higher disease
- Slurred speech
- Memory problems
- Unsteady walking
- Increased or reduced sleep
- Hostility
- More energy than normal
- Extreme mood swings
- Poor decision-making
What are the Signs of Alcohol Addiction in Teens?
Check for the following signs if you suspect your teenage child is addicted to alcohol:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Deterioration in physical appearance
- Double vision
- Coordination issues
- Slurred speech
- Reddened skin
- Changes in sleep pattern
- The smell of alcohol on clothes or regular alcohol smell on breath
- Short-term memory
- Mood swings and anxiety
- Depression
- Decreased personal hygiene
- Loss of interest in previous activities
- Neglect of responsibilities
Can Teens Become Addicted to Social Media?
Yes. Teens can become addicted to social media, a disorder linked to anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and poor body image. Causes include the need for online validation and approval and the constant pressure to ‘level up’ and fit in with their peers. Signs of social media addiction among teenagers include anxiety, feeling guilty about not posting or reacting to posts, inability to disconnect from social media, excessively focusing on social media image, neglecting schoolwork and household chores, and anger when questioned about their social media use.
How Does Prescription Medication Addiction Differ from Other Forms of Addiction?
Prescription addiction differs from other types of addiction because prescription drugs are legal and regulated, unlike substances such as cocaine. They are used by doctors to treat several medical conditions and are, therefore, safe and effective if the right dosage is observed.
