'Substance Use and Teens’
Associated Clinic of Psychology
Adolescence is a tricky time. Teenagers are just beginning to establish their identities and this often means testing the limits of parental controls.
Parents play a critical role in their children’s lives. As their children grow to pre-teens and teens, parents worry about new risks they may experience. One such risk is the use of substances, such as alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, and other drugs. Setting clear rules about substance use helps give teens the structure they need to stay safe.
Substance Use Basics
Common substances used by adolescents and young adults include:
alcohol, tobacco (JUUL, cigarettes), marijuana (leaf, THC oils, dabs and vape pens), hallucinogens (LSD and PCP), sedatives (Xanax, Ambien), stimulants (Adderall, cocaine) and opioids (Vicodin, heroin, Percocet).
Why Substance Abuse is Detrimental to the Teenage Brain
Vaping, drinking or using substances can damage the brain’s wiring, increasing the likelihood of learning difficulties and physical and mental health problems during the teen years and well into adulthood.
The teenage years are vital to healthy cognitive function as an adult, so it is important to maintain a strict level of healthy behavior during these years. Drug abuse can impact the brain’s ability to function in the short-term as well as prevent proper growth and development for later in life.
Substance abuse affects teen brain development by:
- Interfering with neurotransmitters and damaging connections within the brain
- Reducing the ability to experience pleasure
- Creating problems with memory
- Causing missed opportunities during a period of heightened learning potential
- Ingraining expectations of unhealthy habits into brain circuitry
- Inhibiting development of perceptual abilities
What Is a Substance Use Disorder?
The term “substance use” exists along a spectrum from initial use to greater frequency (and usually more consequences) and could lead eventually to addiction.
What are signs to look for?
Common signs of mental illness and substance abuse in teens include:
· Drastic changes in behavior
· Poor grades and truancy
· Hanging out with friends who use drugs and alcohol
· Increased anger
· Weight loss and changes in appearance
· Isolating from others
For more information: https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/articles/warning-signs-teen-substance-use
What are the ‘Risk Factors’ and how can parents support their teen?
Fitting in
Feelings of being an outsider and longing to be included and liked by others are pretty pronounced during the teen years. If the kids your teen wants to be friends with, or is hanging out with, are drinking or using substances, they may feel that they need to participate as well or risk being left out. Some teens see substance use as an easy path to making friends, fitting in or being accepted with the “right” crowd.
What parents can do:
- Get to know your kid’s friends and their parents, and talk with those parents about their approach to supervision and their stance on substance use.
- Encourage your teen to use your home for socializing. Give them a private space if possible but keep an eye on them.
- Assure your child that they can call you to be picked up whenever needed, no questions asked.
- Talk about their need for acceptance and to fit in. Explain that real friends will give them space to be themselves and won’t make them do anything they’re uncomfortable with.
Socializing
Some teens use drugs and alcohol to overcome insecurities, let their guard down and feel socially confident. Substance use may make them feel like they are really open and connecting with others. In addition to more obvious risks, this can lead teens to feel like substance use is necessary to achieve a certain level of interaction.
What parents can do:
- Find activities for your teen to socialize in a healthy, safe and supervised environment.
- If your child is socializing at someone else’s home, know where they will be. Call the parents in advance to verify the occasion, location and that there will be supervision.
- Communicate your expectations and rules for when your teen goes out with friends, and include regular check-ins.
- Model healthy behaviors. Find opportunities to socialize and connect in environments that don’t include alcohol.
Life transitions
Periods of transition in teens’ lives — like moving, divorce, puberty, changing schools, an illness or death in the family — can become a time of upheaval, leading some to attempt to find solace in alcohol or drugs.
What Parents Can Do:
- Ramp up the monitoring and communication during and after transitions.
- Encourage an open dialogue with your teen about their experiences.
- Set aside regular one-on-one time with your teen to bond and have fun together
Emotional and psychological pain
Whether it’s the pressure of everyday teen drama or the emotional toll of family problems, stress or trauma, some teens use substances to dull the very real pain in their lives. Loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety disorder and other mental health issues are commonly associated with teen substance use. Furthermore, many of these issues occur in combination with one another, each compounding the intensity of the others.
What parents can do:
- Offer empathy and compassion. Let your child know you understand. Acknowledge that everyone struggles sometimes.
- Remind your child that you are there for support and guidance – and that it’s important to you that she or he is healthy and happy and makes safe choices.
- Model healthy coping skills like exercise, meditation or mindfulness. Show your kids how to learn from mistakes and disappointments.
- Brainstorm together to identify healthy ways to manage the stress in their life (e.g., more sleep, getting outdoors, one-on-one times, etc.). Let your child offer suggestions and help them think through their ideas.
- If your child is suffering, reassure them that you will seek out appropriate professional help and then do just that.
Lisa Lippold, MA, LADC is available to conduct chemical health assessments to any high school aged student who may be struggling with substance use. Associated Clinic of Psychology is here to provide mental health services to students and their families. Consult with your child's school counselor or contact us directly with questions. www.acp-mn.com or 612-455-8643