About Youth Substance Abuse

Adolescent substance abuse is on the rise. There are many reasons for this but mainly it is an escape route for them. It is a way for them to get away from the confrontations of everyday life. Treatment solely designed for adolescents with a substance abuse problem is relatively new. The options are much more sophisticated and no longer resemble hospitals.

Patterns

• When adolescents have substance abuse problems, their patterns of abuse are not the same as those of adults. Many adolescents are not hooked on one particular drug but use multiple substances instead.

Problem Solving

• Adolescent substance abusers have many issues to tackle before they can claim a life of sobriety. These children have lost their identity and really no longer know who they are. This happens because they are still in the process of development. They can be helped by learning how to develop self-esteem, enhancing social skills, and by learning how to solve problems.

Coping

• Adolescents have a higher chance of relapse if they are not taught how to recognize certain feelings and learn how to request help. They also have to learn to manage anxiety, stress, depression, and post traumatic stress disorder. After care is likely the most essential factor that will lead to life long sobriety. Adolescents need support from their peers, family, and must attend group meetings after they return home from treatment.

Significance

• Adolescent substance abuse is very trying on parents, as they are the ones that are responsible for making the choices for their children. These choices can be extremely difficult for parents to make. Most of the time with adolescent substance abusers, there are a great deal of family and psychological problems that contribute to their pattern of abuse. Another problem is that adolescents go the extra mile to cover their problem and what ends up happening is it affects their performance in school, they have problems with family, and it disintegrates their friendships with peers.

Family

• The majority of adolescents are reluctant to enter treatment, and forcing them does not make it any easier, but it has to be done. This also makes it more difficult for the people that will be treating them. Once they are released, adolescents have to rely solely on family. Family must monitor their child's peers, ensure that they get their child to all meetings and after care, and above all make sure that they are clean and sober.