Parents & Educators

You require seat belts in the car and helmets while biking. You insist on sunscreen, and you immunize. Parents do just about everything to ensure your kids are healthy, safe, and primed for success. But when it comes to drinking alcohol, smoking marijuana, or using drugs, why does it seem so easy to shrug it off as “a tie of passage” or “just experimenting?”

No parent wants to think that their child may be addicted to opioids. The problem of opioid abuse affects every community, no matter a person’s race or background. A parent can be doing everything right when it comes to parenting, yet still be faced with a situation where your teen has a problem with drugs. Research suggests that one of the most influential factors when a teen is growing up is a strong, open relationship with a parent or caregiver. You are your child’s greatest champion and advocate!

It’s never too early or too late to talk with your child about the risks of prescription opioid misuse. As kids age, they make more decisions on their own and face greater temptation and peer pressure. Though it may not seem like it, young people really do hear your concerns. As a parent/caregiver, it’s important you help them understand what prescription opioids are, why they shouldn’t misuse them, and the danger of combining opioids with alcohol or other drugs. Delaying the age of the first use of any substance is an important prevention strategy.

This kid-friendly video explains how repeated substance use can hijack brain function, and the importance of delaying use until the brain has fully developed. Addiction & the Brain – For Kids! – YouTube

#WHY DO TWEENS AND TEENS USE DRUGS

It is helpful for parents to understand why an adolescent might be using drugs. The adolescent years are a key window for both substance use, and the development of substance use disorders. Brain systems governing emotion and reward-seeking are fully developed by this time, but circuits governing judgment and self-inhibition are still maturing, causing teenagers to act on impulse, seek new sensations, and be easily swayed by their peers—all of which may draw them to take risks such as taking drugs. There are a variety of reasons they use, including:

• Curiosity and experimentation
• Peer pressure and trying to fit in
• Pressure to perform in sports or academically
• Pain relief after an injury
• Media influence: studies show that teens who watch shows or movies that depict substance use are more likely to copy those behaviors
• Risk-taking as a way to feel more independent
• The primary reason for drug abuse in teens is the need to self-medicate emotional pain. Substance abuse comes as a way to escape distressing circumstances, feelings, or relationships

#IS IT NORMAL FOR TEENS TO USE SUBSTANCES

During tween/teen years, from mood swings to rebellion, many types of challenging behavior are normal, but experimenting with substance use isn’t one of them. We need to rethink our perception of norms. Not everyone vapes, drinks, or uses drugs. A variety of experiences can become an excuse or reason for substance use. Periods of transition in young people’s lives, like moving, divorce, puberty, change in schools, an illness or death in the family, can become a time of distress, leading some to attempt to find solace in alcohol or drugs. Understanding why young people use substances is a valuable step toward keeping them safe and healthy.

#WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF TEEN OPIOID USE

You may notice your teen seeming like they are in a constant fog or out of it. They may have trouble focusing on you or care about anything other than getting more drugs. Knowing the signs of opioid use can help you determine if a loved one is struggling with opioid addiction and allow you to provide support and encouragement for them to seek treatment. Potential signs of drug use include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Disheveled appearance
• Problems at home or school
• Changes in sleep habits
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Poor coordination
• Shallow breathing
• Agitation
• Mood swings
• Depression
• Appetite changes
• Slurred speech
• Nausea or vomiting
• Irritability

Signs of use and addiction can be physical, psychological, and emotional. If you notice changes in your child that seem to come out of nowhere, they may be struggling with addiction.

#WARNING SIGNS OF ADDICTION IN TEENS

There are both physical and behavioral signs of drug use in teens. The behavioral signs of teen substances use can sometimes resemble typical teen angst or rebellion. There are also physical signs of drug use in teens that parents should be familiar with. Together, these early signs of teen substance abuse can hep identify when a teen is struggling.

10 Physical Signs of Teen Substance Abuse

1. Bloodshot or watery eyes
2. Runny nose, frequent nosebleeds
3. Sudden, unexplained weight loss or gain
4. Shaking and tremors
5. Poor hygiene and diminished personal appearance
6. Smell of smoke on breath or clothes
7. Compulsive eating, frequent hunger
8. Puffy, swollen face
9. Either fatigue or hyperactivity
10. Wearing inappropriate clothing, such as long sleeves in summer to hide needle marks

10 Behavioral Signs of Drug Use in Teens

1. Emotional instability, extreme moodiness
2. Loss of interest in once-favored activities
3. Feelings of intense sadness
4. Irritability, anger, aggression
5. Difficulty staying focused, causing problems in school
6. Secretive behavior, territorial, hiding in their room
7. Stealing, unexplained need for money
8. Sleeping more than usual, staying in bed all day
9. Avoiding eye contact, withdrawing into their shell
10. Replacing longtime friends with a new friend group