Teens And Drugs

By Tara Leigh

Teens and drugs is nothing new, as a matter of fact many parents will admit that they themselves used drugs in their teenage years. Teens, who are depressed, have a low self-esteem, or feel ignored by their parents are more likely to turn to alcohol and drugs. The federal government spend millions annually to promote abstinence via education campaigns in the media as well as in our schools.

Discussing Drugs
Children are being exposed to a constant stream of misinformation about drugs. Studies have revealed that 1 in 10 Internet messages were sent by teens seeking advice from their peers on how to take illicit drugs.

When discussing drugs with your teens it is necessary to be open and honest, young people need to be made aware of the dangers and exactly which drugs pose the most risks, they need to fully understand that certain substances can be lethal.

If you don't have a lot of knowledge on the subject, it would be wise to educate yourself before discussing it so that you are armed with the answers to any questions they may have and also avoid finding yourself in an awkward situation where your teen seems to know more about drugs than you do. The more you know the better equipped you will be to be able to offer advice and help.

Many parents are afraid that if they broach the subject with their teens, it could possibly lead to experimentation and so choose to avoid the topic.

The effects of drugs
Drugs destroy part of the brain that is still developing.

Nowadays, drugs including marijuana are much more potent that they were 15 years ago.
A rise in the number of school dropouts, teen pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, criminal behaviour, suicide and death by drug overdoses has been linked to drug use.
Alcohol

Youth is often thought of as a time for experimenting with new things, however experimenting with alcohol can be considerably more dangerous than you may anticipate. Alcohol abuse is becoming more and more prevalent and it's not isolated to any one country in particular, it is global. Alcohol is the drug of choice amongst the youth today and sadly the consequences can be devastating. Alcohol is one of the leading contributors to injury and death and is the leading cause of death in people under the age of 21.

Parents who are struggling with troubled teens and drugs can find help, support and advice at: Parenting Troubled Teens.

http://parentingtroubledteens.0nlyne.com