Junk Food
Internet/Computer Use
Marijuana and/or Hash
Alcohol
Tobacco
Sugar/Candy
Over Eating
Under Eating or Anorexia
Self-Harm (primarily cutting or wrist slashing)
S-e-x
Bullying or abusing others
Video Games
How do I know this? Because I asked.

I’ve spoken to thousands of students across the U.S. and Canada about addictions. Each participant was asked: “What habits(s) do you most want to stop or reduce in your life right now?” The answers were startling.

A group of 265 students (Grades 7-12) anonymously listed 92 different destructive habits with which they were struggling – a total of 1031 times! This means that each child had an average of four habits from which they wanted FREEDOM.

The 12 most common addictive habits are listed above. The other 80 are equally as shocking. (for a full list visit www.thepowerofchoice.ca)

Who Are These Kids and Where Do They Come From?

For only 265 kids to self-identify 1031 bad habits and addictions seems incredible. But it’s true. Yet there was nothing unusual about the type of schools these kids came from and the communities they lived in ranged from low-to-high income.

Often, these weren’t your typical “at-risk” students, referred by school officials, guidance counselors or parents. And for school staff, it was an eye opener. Many had been unaware of how many students were suffering in silence, and were stunned to hear of the multitude of addictive behaviors.

How do we reach these Kids?

As a school speaker, I am fully aware that trying to scare students out of experimenting with dangerous or illegal activities is not the most effective approach.

That’s why I use my personal story of addiction in a different way — as a way of connecting my own challenges, pain and choices with theirs, so as to inspire those in pain to attend my healthy habits workshop and 28-day program.

What I’ve discovered is that kids relate to this. Yes, many are alienated or angry. Those with serious behaviours and addictions are afraid, and they’re desperate for a way out. But when someone is honest and direct with them, and has practical answers to the problems they’re facing, they are ready to listen.

How Much “Choice” Do We Really Have?

What I’ve recognized and teach kids in my workshops is that being a victim is a choice. Yes, we may have been “victimized” and experienced bad things in our lives. But how we look at those events now is up to us.

As a teenager, my choices led me to become and stay addicted. By transforming what was behind my addictions and becoming responsible for the decisions I had made, I am now able to live free of addictions, rather than as a victim of my past.

Applying this in our Schools

What I want students to know is that they have this same choice. My workshops help kids shift their attention and energy away from the seemingly hopeless nature of their “bad habits,” and redirect it towards developing healthy habits.

We focus on their power to choose, to support others, and be supported by a community and buddy system, while reducing their bad habits until they get to abstinence (if that is what they choose).

This message encourages and enables young people to make far more change than any threats or negative statistics could ever do. And the results are proving very positive.

Final Words

I believe it’s up to us, as adults, to teach kids to take responsibility for the choices that affect their lives, and to offer them practical steps that will give them positive results. And the best way to teach that is to do it for ourselves.

As Gandhi said, “be the change you want to see in the world.”

Teenage drug addiction has become more prevalent in today’s culture than thirty years ago. Then alcohol and marijuana were the primary substances used by adolescents. In 2009 however, the prevalence of teen drug addiction has become alarming.

The number of adolescents undergoing drug addiction counselling has increased rapidly. Many centres have begun to accept patients younger than eighteen seeking help with addiction because the demand has become so great. However, adolescent drug abuse is a delicate subject as the psychology of teenagers is extremely complex and external factors are often influential in drug use in this age group.

Adolescence is not easy
Adolescence begins at approximately age 10 for girls and 12 for boys with the further development of their reproductive organs and sexual maturity. Hormones develop and behavioural changes begin to occur as well as physical changes. Individuals experiencing puberty and adolescence are going through one of the most difficult times of their lives. The physical and emotional changes play a large role in the confusion and the need for acceptance which adolescents feel at this time.

Peer pressure is a big motivator behind the increased use of drugs and alcohol. Adolescents are experiencing a stage where they struggle to find their identity whilst emerging from the safety blanket of their parents. They are beginning their preparations for adult life and self-esteem can suffer in the confusion which adolescence brings.

Drugs and self-destructive behaviour
To a teenager, it seems that only their friends understand them. The need to be accepted can involve participating in the same behaviour as their circle of friends, which can be experimenting with drugs and alcohol. Alcohol and marijuana are commonly used by teenagers, as are ‘party’ drugs such as MDMA (ecstasy), Acid (LSD) and magic mushrooms. Harder drugs such as cocaine, heroin, crack-cocaine and crystal methamphetamine are sometimes used by adolescents but less frequently. Solvents such as glue, paint thinners and aerosol gases are also a popular choice of drug for teens.

Professionals are generally hesitant to label a teenager as an addict for two reasons: Firstly, addiction is a disease – if a person is using drugs regularly, this does not mean that they are a drug addict. Secondly, teenagers are developing psychologically and it can be dangerous to diagnose someone as an addict before they are at least 20 years old.

Disease of Addiction
The disease of addiction is incurable, grows progressively worse and is fatal unless arrested. It can be stopped by the application of drug addiction counselling and a programme of recovery. The disease concept states that an addict is sick and that their drug use and other compulsive behaviours are symptoms of this ‘sickness’. Either someone has the disease or not.

Those addicts that do start drinking and using can experience a ‘honeymoon period’. This is a phase when an alcoholic/addict is at the beginning of their drinking/using career: an enjoyable time when the disease has not progressed yet. Addicts generally begin this phase of addiction in their teens.

It must be emphasised that many teens who do not have the disease of addiction will try drugs and may use them regularly until they decide they do not need them and want to stop. An addict will not be able to stop – this is the difference between addicts and non-addicts. Addiction sees those with the disease continuing to drink or take drugs for the rest of their lives until they receive help. It is also the reason why many professionals will not label a teen as an addict as they may just be going through the adjustment to adulthood.

Getting help
A teenager may not qualify for diagnosis as an addict yet drug use and compulsive disorders such as eating disorders, self-harm, promiscuity and other risky behaviours are a clear message that there is a problem. Whether it is addiction or not, help is available.

Signs to watch for if you suspect your child is taking drugs are:

Declining school marks and truancy Weight loss or gain Large or pin-prick sized pupils Secretive behaviour Abandonment of old friends for a ‘new’ group Lack of finances, never having money, borrowing money Money going missing in the house Disappearance of their expensive personal possessions Isolating, spending a lot of time in their room or out of the house Violent outbursts and rage Lack of interest in things which used to please them Smell of solvents or thinners on their clothes or in their mouths Glass pipes, burnt/broken light bulbs, rolling papers, tinfoil, hypodermic needles, melted lighters, plastic ‘bankies’ in their possession

Help is available for teens using drugs. It can be very beneficial for them to undergo drug addiction counselling at a drug and alcohol treatment centre if the problem is serious. A centre which encourages clients to follow a 12 Step programme of recovery (such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous), and provides one to one counselling and therapy groups and a healthy lifestyle will have the best results.

It is never a good idea to force a teenager into recovery from drug addiction or other compulsive behaviours, neither is it a good idea to put them into a rehabilitation programme simply if you discover your child has taken drugs – this may do more harm than good. If your child has begun to develop a serious addiction problem and cannot cease their use of drugs and other compulsive behaviours, then treatment is a good idea.