What Parents Should Know About Drugs

2009.05.03

The key factor, here, is knowing the real reason behind why a teenager would turn to cannabis or other drugs. Is it peer pressure to fit in, or is it a built in resentment to parental authority, or are they being constantly bombarded with images and programming that would be conducive to taking drugs?

 Studies on addiction indicate that it is stress that can lead to addiction, because the ones who are undergoing stress want to relieve its effect on them, so they seek an escape. The problem with that is that the need to escape, rather than the actual drug itself becomes the real addiction. It is a fact that teens who use drugs are twice as likely to report very high levels of psychological distress, and, as mentioned above stress leads to addictions, and, paradoxically, what they use to escape is the very thing that gets them even more stressed. Addicted teenagers are that way because it is the escape to the short relief initially, but then, in order to get that again, or to get more of that relief, drug intake will increase, and/or lead to experimentation with other drugs. This is one opinion, on the other hand there is speculation that marijuana does not create this problem.

           

 One of the best suggestions comes from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy that recommends that if you are at all worried about your teenager being addicted to drug usage or the illusion of freedom that drugs offer. What you need to do is to talk to them, because the biggest influence on young teenagers who are in that awkward phase is their parents. It is a parents responsibility to educate themselves about weed, hash pipes, bongs, bubble bags.

 Teenagers themselves have indicated that drugs are not always chosen because of trouble at home or at school, they indicate that availability of drugs, curiosity, need to be accepted, rebellion, depression, or a need to deal with stress, boredom or pain are also major contributing factors in turning to drugs. A study has pointed out that about 70% of cannabis, cocaine, and amphetamine users got their drugs from friends or from their acquaintances.

            A look at what the initial cause is reveals that for teens to get started on drugs it is the emotional state that plays the biggest role in their decision to use or not use drugs. Usually, if the home front is a good place where communication is free and open, then there is an increased likelihood that the teenager is going to be more educated in the common sense approach rather than the alternative of being threatened. - If kids cannot communicate openly and freely with their parents, then they will get acceptance elsewhere, with friends or acquaintances that may be into using drugs.
           

            The parents are the most influential force on their kids’ lives, if the teen feels that there is no communication at all, they will find it elsewhere, but, if communication is done regularly, in an  easy, open tone,  then the chances are better that the teen will not feel obligated to turn to drugs to escape from stress.