Adolescent rehab programs in the US have stated that drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents is a real problem that should be confronted. One of the prominent teen rehab in Pennsylvania states that parents have a huge responsibility to ensure that their kids are not being induced by drugs.  They should not be harsh with their kids but at the same time, they shouldn’t be too lenient and maintain a watchful eye because this phase of life can be quite vulnerable and be the base of how he or she would be as an adult.

 

The teen drug abuse statistics are alarming to say the least; just goes to show where the future of this country is heading thanks to the callous attitude adopted by adults and the open culture existence perpetrated by the media and the Internet.  In the US, there are about 3,500 teenagers who smoke every day. Nearly 27 percent of teenagers have confessed to abusing any one drug in the year 2004.  The drug that is most abused in this age group is Marijuana. Teenagers who socialize and frequent parties are known to abuse the Club Drug ‘Ecstasy’. A survey of 10th graders four years back showed that 15 percent used Marijuana, 13 percent of them used inhalants and 6 percent used a club drug

 

Why do teenagers abuse drugs? According to the reports put forwarded by teen treatment centers that have examined this situation and treated many youngsters, peer pressure and lack of confidence are the biggest reasons.  When a fellow teenager boasts about taking drugs and seducing a girl in his class, or when a group of drug-struck teenagers talk about the ‘highs ‘that they get by taking drugs, an impressionable teenager develops the interest in trying it out and that’s where the trouble starts brewing

 

Drugs are known to have dangerous effects that can harm a person’s physical and mental development. For one, it can harm the teen’s ability to absorb information and pay attention. Teenagers who have drugs are more likely to indulge in unprotected sex and even have physical relationships with a complete stranger. Teenagers who abuse drugs are usually the ones who are getting into this bad habit from a young age and if the person does not stop his or her addiction, it can be very difficult to get rid of this problem and even when treated, there are chances of relapse when quitting the drug addiction.

 

Anabolic steroids cause a lot of sexual problems in both the sexes. The reproductive organs are not developed properly, men tend to become impotent, and women suffer from hair loss and clitoral enlargement. Additionally, there are other repercussions like acne, skin diseases, baldness, stunted growth, stroke, liver diseases, cancer and risk of HIV/AIDS in both sexes, given the fact that some of the drugs can make a person promiscuous in nature

 

Substance abuse can affect the body systems and depending on whether the body is able to process the drug or not, there have been many instances of interrupted breathing from sedatives, permanent brain damage from inhalants and heart attacks from stimulants.  Needless to say, all of these drugs can lead to death as well.   Drugs according to teen rehab centers, may be taken by teens to mask their fears and anxieties but in retrospect, they actually increase these worries after the momentary ‘high’ is lost and due to increased depression, a person can actually commit suicide, kill someone or even become a homicide victim.

Are you aware if your teen purposely injures herself? Teen depression or anxiety can trigger this response to stress, and you might not even know about it.

 

Self-harm is difficult to imagine, but some teens who are have depression or anxiety disorder use it as a way to release painful emotions.

 

If your teen is injuring herself, it’s imperative that you seek help. Here is some background on self-injury.

 

It mostly affects women between the ages of 13 and 30, but men are also likely to react this way to painful depression and anxiety. They will use any object they can find to inflict pain on themselves. This includes cutting with razors, scissors, broken glass, pieces of sharp metal, needles or whatever else they can find.

 

A sure sign that your teen is injuring herself is any repeated cuts on her arms, legs, hands, wrists and elsewhere. Some injuries are minor and heal quickly, while others can be severe enough to cause permanent scarring and possibly require medical treatment.

 

While the majority of people who self-harm are not suicidal, there are some who are, so this should not be ruled out.

 

The big question is why do they take such drastic action against themselves?

 

Disruptive family life, trauma and sexual abuse are some of the more common reasons why teens self-harm. It is their way of relieving the anger and inner turmoil that results from these disruptions. While it might appear to be a method to gain attention, cutting is actually something that teens do in private, away from view.

 

In fact, unless you happen to see your teen with her arms or legs exposed, chances are you will never know that she has injured herself repeatedly.

 

Any negative emotions can trigger the self-harm, which makes it that much more difficult to pin down. One such emotion is the idea that she needs to punish herself for guilt that she feels. Other possible causes include bipolar disorder, obsessive thinking, eating disorders, and aggressive behavior.

 

Cutting offers a distraction from the real pain that’s going on inside her. Emotional pain can be much more unbearable than a few cuts.  In fact, cutting provides a sense of relief, although temporary.

 

Resolving the self harm means getting to the root of the problem that is causing the emotional pain. If the teen has suffered sexual abuse or is having difficulty coping with chaos in the family, these issues must be addressed by a doctor or other medical professional.

 

If your teen is experiencing unbearable anxiety, which can come from any number of sources including school and peer pressure, this too must be treated to prevent more serious problems arising in the future.

 

Cutting is a sure sign that your teen has not learned how to deal with various life experiences and the stress they bring. It is important for your teen to learn good coping skills so that this problem does not repeat itself.

 

What you can do

 

Teaching your teen alternative ways of coping is imperative because once she starts cutting, it becomes almost addictive and extremely difficult for her to break the habit.

 

Seek professional help as soon as you realize there is a problem. Find someone who will help her to establish a more positive attitude about herself and her options. Do whatever you can to help build her confidence and self esteem. Offer your support. Open the door for non-judgmental communication where she can share her concerns. Talk therapy is an extremely beneficial coping mechanism.

 

It’s important to stay positive about the healing process. Some teens will recover quickly, while others will take longer. Although you might not see results on the outside, you can be sure something good is happening on the inside.

Alcohol addiction can be treated easily. In fact, it is not a problem that will persist life long. There are Alcohol Rehab Programs that will help you lead your life with dignity that everyone wishes for and you need not face social stigmas.

The Alcohol Rehab Program offers you solution to alcoholism. You will be supervised medically in the comfort of your house and there will also be private detoxification service with a constant intensive treatment. More beneficially, the counseling programs are scheduled as per the needs of addicted individual. Nowadays, the Alcohol Rehab Programs have introduced new standard of care treatment for alcoholism. It is not like a never-ending treatment program that will continue for a lifetime.

Three types of Alcohol Rehab Program:

In-Patient Alcohol Rehab Program is for those, who are suffering from alcoholism for many years and who have tried and failed other such alcohol treatments. Out-Patient Alcohol Rehab Program is appropriate for a person, whose addiction is less severe or who are on their second stage of the Alcohol Rehab Program or have inadequate time to go through an In Patient Alcohol Rehab Program.

Teenagers are nowadays getting addicted to Alcoholism. Adolescent Alcohol Rehab Program is for the teenagers, who are addicted to alcoholism. This program offers the teenagers with an appropriate treatment to get rid of this addiction.

Adopt one:

All you will need is two to three weeks of intensive treatment program, but hospital stay is not required. You will be treated with a day and evening counseling program. Alcohol Rehab program will provide you medicines that are safe and will help to eliminate craving and urges. Expert counseling will be provided to you that will show the path to a successful life.

Your health will be reinstated to optimal levels with wellness management. These programs not only limited to detox, but it also teaches you to learn more on addiction effects, alcoholism prevention and the techniques to break this habit. The support group will include your family, friends and along with the counselors.

Alcohol Rehab Program gives you regimented schedule that will keep your mind diverted from alcohol. This gives an opportunity to interact with other people who are also addicted to alcoholism, thus you get to learn from them and express yourself in a safe and sound environment. This helps you break through the emotional bonding with alcohol.

Overview:

The friends you make in this Alcohol Rehab Program will help and offer you support to get rid of this addiction. This program helps you to know your self-worth and gain confidence to handle emotional problems that lead to alcoholism. It is time to adopt an Alcohol Rehab Program that focuses only on addiction of alcoholism rather than multiple addictions and maladaptive behavior to make your world a better place to live in.

Some of the long-term effects of drinking at a young age include learning difficulties, memory loss, and addiction problems later on in life. These are only some of the associated problems that are currently, scientifically proven. It is time that parents and those in our community took a stand against alcohol use, and experimentation with our teenage children now, rather than later on down the track when the damage has already been done.

Heavy drug abuse is said to be the main concern of many parents, when it comes to addictive substances. Although research suggests that the largest percentage of drug related occurrences are the direct result of alcohol use, not hard drugs. Parents need to be aware that alcohol use among young teens is harmful, unacceptable, and is a dangerous substance among teenagers that needs our attention, rather than our tolerance.

Facts About Alcohol, And Your Teenager

• In Australia, it is estimated that at least 73% of teenagers try alcohol more than once.

• In 2001, over 3,000 teenagers died due to alcohol use, and a further 64,782 needed medical attention after an alcohol related episode.

• Teenagers who are exposed to alcohol at an early age are five times more likely to become addicted later in life.

• Teenagers who binge-drink are likely to have poor judgment, and engage in dangerous activities such as increased risk taking, unwanted sex, blackouts, vomiting, and being a victim to violent activities.

Teenage Drinking, What You Can Do As A Parent

The relationships that we have with our teenage children have a bearing on their future development as they grow into well-adjusted adults who take their place in the community. In order to give your teenager the best start in life, they need to be given love, security, a warm and friendly family environment, as well as a firm set of values, and standards to live their lives by.

From an early age, children need boundaries. This helps them define, in later life, what acceptable behaviour is, and what isn’t tolerable. As children reach their teenage years, they need to be taught responsibility within their defined boundaries as a teenager. It is a parent’s duty, not prerogative to take an active role in your teenager’s life.

As a parent, if you don’t agree with teenage drinking, voice your opinion with other parents, and take a stand for what you feel is the right thing. You just may find that there are many other parents out there who agree with you. By creating a network of parents within your community that includes the parents of your teenager’s friends where possible, you can work together towards creating a strong, safe structure for your teenager to socialise in.