Drug Abuse

Drug abuse in teens is very common.  Obviously drug abuse can have deadly consequences for anyone but in teenagers it is especially damaging because their brains are not yet fully developed.  This means that the chance for permanent damage is more likely in teenagers.  Since there are so many kinds of drugs, legal and illegal, that teenagers have access to it is difficult to summarize all of their negative effects here.  For more detailed information on specific drugs please visit the website of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Generally speaking parents should be on the look out for any behavioral or emotional changes in their teenagers.  Sleep disruptions are especially common.  If your teenager is staying up all night or sleeping for hours during the day this could be a warning sign.  Sudden changes in emotions such as anger or depression could also be signs that your teenager is taking drugs. 

Physical signs of drug use could include rapid weight loss or weight gain, red or glossy eyes, stumbling, lack of coordination, nose bleeds, or incoherent speech. 

The most dangerous drugs for teenagers are inhalants.  These substances are extremely common and easy to purchase.  They include cans of compressed air, nitrous gas that comes with cake making equipment, gasoline, glue and many other common products.  Since these things are legal there is a myth that they are not harmful, or else they would be illegal.  The fact is that more teenagers die from inhalants than from any other drug.  Teenagers can easily suffocate or cause permanent brain damage by using inhalants to get high. 

Drugs are also a terrible coping skill to deal with life's problems.  One of the most insidious things about drugs is that they can become how a person handles life stresses.  This means that they eventually have difficulty dealing with real life without drugs and never develop useful life skills.  When people start taking drugs they stop maturing emotionally. I urge you to take advantage of my free consulation if you believe your teenager is taking drugs. 

Click here to read Miami Teen Counseling's blog posts on drug abuse and related subjects. 

By Miguel Brown