Where Parents Can Turn If a Teen Has a Drug Problem

Where Parents Can Turn If a Teen Has a Drug Problem

Where Parents Can Turn If a Teen Has a Drug Problem:- About 7,800 people begin using illicit drugs every day, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and more than half are under the age of 18. Finding out your teen is using drugs can be a scary and stressful experience.

It’s no surprise that people often try drugs for the first time during their teen years. That’s why it is so important for parents to address the dangers of drug use with their children. Sadly, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 1 in 5 parents of adolescents aged 12 to 17 believe that what they say about drugs will have little influence on whether their children decide to use drugs. But research has shown that the reverse is true. When you talk openly about the dangers of drugs and set clear expectations, your children do listen. In fact, you are a powerful influence in lowering the chances of your teen ever using drugs.

Unfortunately, for some teens, anti-drug messages are not enough; and rather than resisting the lure of drugs, they gravitate toward them. Ultimately, each teen makes the decision to use or not to use. As a parent, if you discover drugs or paraphernalia in your home, you may wonder where you can turn for help. Fortunately, there are many resources at your fingertips to link you to information, organizations and professionals that can assist you and your child.

However, searching for credible resources online can sometimes feel overwhelming. To cut through the confusion, here is a list of trustworthy sources that can guide you through the process of getting your child help. It should be noted that there are many wonderful resources available online and offline to help you through this process. These are just some places to start.

Drug Education Resources

The following sites provide information for parents on how to address drug use, prevent it and broach the topic with kids:

• “Family Checkup: Positive Parenting Prevents Drug Abuse” from NIDA asks parents five essential questions that are important in preventing the initiation and progression of drug use among youth.
• A drug guide for parents from the Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.
• “Make a Difference: Talk to Your Child About Alcohol” from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This is a helpful guide that’s available in English and Spanish.
• NIDA also provides information on commonly abused drugs that every parent should check out to learn about current drug use trends.
• “Alcohol and Drug Addiction Happens in the Best of Families” from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is an informative brochure that describes how substance misuse affects the entire family, how treatment works and how family interventions can be a first step to recovery.

Podcast, Talks and Videos

• “Let’s Talk Drugs.” This podcast provides evidence-based information to help people better understand drug and alcohol use, addiction and recovery. It’s presented by ProjectKnow.com, a site informing parents and family members of those struggling with addiction about the variety of options available for treating substance abuse.
• TEDMED talk “Why Do Our Brains Get Addicted?” by neuroscientist Nora Volkow, who is director of NIDA and a leading expert in the neurobiology of diseases of reward and self-control, including addiction.
• “How to Talk to Your Child About Drugs and Alcohol,” a very informative and educational podcast for parents on momenough.com with Dr. Joseph Lee, a spokesman for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• “Alcoholism and Drug Abuse in Teenagers,” a powerful and compelling TEDxtalk from a teen who speaks about her struggles with addiction and her recovery.
• “Videos: Exploring Drug Effects,” a rich series of interactive educational videos provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse for Teens examining the effects of drugs on teens’ health and emotional well-being.

Other Online Resources and Support Programs

These sites provide support and resources to help parents ensure their children get the help they deserve:

• Healthychildren.org is a site sponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics that provides relevant resources for parents of adolescents about substance abuse and treatment.
• Mothers Against Drunk Driving, or MADD, is a site that works to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving and support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. The site provides a wonderful resource page called “Power of Parents.”
• SMART Recovery is an addiction recovery support group that provides information for families and teens. This resource is recognized for substance abuse and addiction recovery by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Center for Health Care Evaluation, NIDA, and the Department of Health and Human Services.
• NIDA for Teens features the blog for teens, Drugs & Health. NIDA for Teens applies the science of drug use to real life – the effects of drugs on the teen’s brain, body and life.
• The Addict’s Mom is a group focusing on the mothers of addicted children and raising substance abuse awareness.

Treatment Locators and Rehab Centers

Knowing where to turn is the first step in helping a child who uses drugs. These sites offer a full directory of the best rehab centers and substance use disorder treatment specialists in the nation:

• American Society of Addiction Medicine. You can use this site to find a local physician who specializes in addiction treamtent.
• Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration can be used to find treatment facilities for substance abuse, addiction and mental health problems.
• A parent’s guide to drug paraphernalia from Rehabs.com, a site providing ratings and reviews of rehab centers nationwide and resources for those struggling with substance abuse or addiction and their loved ones.
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence. This site can be used to find the nearest affiliate that can provide professional guidance and support.
• Recovery.org provides information and resources to help people recover from substance abuse and behavioral disorders. Additionally, the private resource provides free online educational blogs written by various treatment professionals across the country.

Helping Teens Get Their Lives Back

Substance use affects more than just the user. It affects the entire family.

Fortunately, we live in a time where help is virtually clicks away. If you suspect your teen is using drugs, act immediately. You don’t have to weather this storm alone. There are trained professionals who can help your teen and your family move forward. If you don’t know where to turn, take advantage of the wealth of online resources to help point you in the right direction.

When substance use is identified and treated early, the prognosis for recovery is better than when it continues into adulthood.

No doubt about it, parenting is hard work and teaching children about drugs can be difficult. But not addressing drugs with children can be dangerous and potentially fatal. According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, parents can begin having age-appropriate conversations about alcohol and drug use as early as age 5.

It’s easier to plant the seeds early when parents play an influential role in their child’s decision-making, as opposed to waiting until adolescence and competing with the persuasive power of peers. On the upside, research shows that youth drug use, except for marijuana, has been decreasing.

Of course, when it comes to drugs, prevention is better than intervention. But sometimes, regardless of all of the good faith efforts to prevent drug use, teens make unhealthy decisions. So, if you find out that your teen is using drugs, don’t hesitate to get help. You play a vital role in helping your teen get clean.

Source:- http://health.usnews.com/wellness/for-parents/articles/2017-08-21/where-parents-can-turn-if-a-teen-has-a-drug-problem