Teenagers are living at a time in their lives when they like to assert their individuality. They want to find out who they really are and explore their independence. They often want to experiment with many things, like activities, clothes, food, and unfortunately substances.
And this comes as no surprise, as teenage drug abuse is a growing problem in many countries, as well as here in the Philippines. Aside from marijuana, teens also try out ecstasy or MDMA, meth (or shabu), and prescription drugs such as Valium and Vicodin..
Many of the adults who are addicted now have started using and abusing narcotics and substances when they were teens. This lifestyle has a foundation early in life, making it much harder to get rid of later on.
Still, there are many dangers of teen addiction.
Dangers of Teen Addiction
As a parent with a son or daughter with teen addiction, the signs may not be apparent for weeks or months, even years. Sometimes, you may even go on not having any clue, until something really awful happens, such as an accident or illness.
Here are some of the dangers of teen addiction that should keep you on your toes:
1. Overdose. Even small amounts of drugs can put your teen at risk for getting an overdose. In fact, even small amounts of drugs, when mixed with other substances such as alcohol, can result in a trip to the ER–or worse. Even prolonged and regular use can also have devastating effects not only on the body, but on their developing minds as well.
2. Weakened immune system. Drug abuse can wreak havoc on many of the body’s functions, including digestion, absorption of vitamins, and production of white blood cells.
3. Lack of sleep and rest. This could lead to non-productivity in school, missing classes, and then insomnia and exhaustion. This can also weaken the immune system and make them susceptible to many diseases.
4. Heart concerns. Many drugs can elevate the heart rate and disrupt is normal functions. This can cause sudden heart attack and stroke.
5. Risk for HIV AIDS and other communicable diseases. Many drugs, especially those taken intravenously through a syringe can cause diseases to be transmitted from one person to another through sharing of needles. Sharing of pipes and other paraphernalia can also spread Hepatitis and other diseases.
6. Brain damage. Drug abuse can have many destructive effects on the brain. The brain’s mental health can deteriorate overtime, especially since the teenage years are also that time when people still develop their brain functions. This can be hampered.
7. Trouble with authority. Teens tend to rebel. However, with drug use and being surrounded with negative peer pressure, teens can get into all kinds of trouble that can cause them to be expelled from school, get involved in illegal activities, and even endanger other people around them.
How you should get involved
The teenage years can be a volatile period for your teen and you should approach them with caution.
Talk calmly to your child and choose your words about teen addiction. Before you do that, however, you have to make sure that you arm yourself with enough information about drugs and addiction, and which drugs your teen may be abusing.
Consider talking to a professional as well on how you can provide intervention and treatment for your child.
At Bridges of Hope, we have helped many teens and their parents combat the ravages of teenage addiction and steer the youth back to the path of sobriety. Call or text us at 09175098826 for inquiries.
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