Teen Substance Abuse: Finding Help

Adolescence is a time in life when we search for identity, meaning, and acceptance. It is also a time when we experiment and test the boundaries that we grew up with. For many teens, this means getting involved with teen substance abuse with substances like hard alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and pill-form drugs.

There are trends in teen substance use, and in the last eleven years, we have seen a decrease in binge drinking and alcohol abuse in general among teens. However, in the last two years, there has been a 50% increase in nicotine and marijuana vaping, especially among males between the 8th and 12th grades. Pill-form drugs like “Molly” and opiates have gained favor and become increasingly popular among teens in the last ten years.

Due to factors like brain chemistry and hormone development, one-time substance use often becomes addictive abuse among teens aged 14 to 19. More than at any other time of life, teenagers often exhibit poor decision-making and a desire to be accepted by peers.

When combined with risky behavior and substance use, addictive patterns easily develop. These decisions can be life-altering, resulting in disease and traumatic sexual experiences, leaving teens vulnerable to further disease and long-lasting mental illness later in life.

When teens begin drinking or using substances early in life, the habit will likely continue and become an addiction in their adult lives. The role of the parent is an ever-changing responsibility, and it can be hard to care for teens, even if they are not abusing substances. It is essential to understand what your teenage child is experiencing, why they may be acting the way they are, and to initiate a trustful relationship with them, with lots of open dialogue.

Why teens use drugs

The human brain develops faster during adolescence than at any other time of our lives. In particular, the sensory part of the brain devoted to experiencing pleasure develops faster than the part responsible for risk assessment and decision-making.

This explains why teenage behavior is often risky, and why they often fail to calculate or understand the consequences of their actions. It also explains why they seek out activities or substances that are pleasure or sensory-focused.

Additionally, adolescents crave peer approval more than any other age group. Studies have shown that first-time and one-time substance use inevitably occurs when teens are together in a group.

The likelihood of a teen experimenting with unknown substances while alone is low, indicating that teens are likely to try substances to gain acceptance among their peers. In such cases, the focus is less on the substances themselves, and more on the approval and acceptance that trying these substances provides.

COVID-19 had a drastic impact on teen substance abuse, even though there were stay-at-home orders. Twenty-three percent of teens ignored these and continued to meet face-to-face, and the remaining percentage regularly met with peers using technology.

Mental health was in sharp decline during the pandemic, and many turned to substances to cope with the trauma. Data is still being compiled on the impact of 2019-2021, but the lasting effects are still being seen in the rise of addictions to substances from those years.

Besides the social factor of substance use and pandemic trauma, teen substance abusers are often affected by familial drama and trauma. According to CDC research in 2019[1] one out of every six teens had made a suicide plan in the last year. This marked a 44% increase since 2009 in planned suicide. The same report showed that one-third of all teens reported a sense of persistent hopelessness or sadness.

Factors like low economic status, a lack of resources, divorce, abuse, and parental substance abuse all contribute to the likeliness of a teen developing substance addiction. These factors may also contribute to neglect, which in turn results in teens having less support, less supervision, and easier access to substances and paraphernalia.

In such cases, there is little hope for the teen to improve their mental health and harmful habits until the familial issues are dealt with. In homes where trauma and addiction are linked to teen substance abuse, the best course of action is to involve healthcare providers and social workers. Some professionals are equipped to deal with these situations, and it may require a friend of the family to initiate such support.

The rule testers

Not every teen who uses substances is affected by trauma or neglect. Many level-headed teenagers are discovered to have developed a substance abuse problem, often to the shock and disappointment of their attentive parents or caregivers. Many households have carefully crafted rules that would ensure the safety and well-being of their children, and despite this, teens often go astray.

Many teens are seeking independence and an identity apart from their parents. It is not uncommon for teens to be private, secretive, and stand-offish, or else volatile and explosive. They are quick to feel accused, and will often become defensive when you attempt to have an open dialogue about their choices. These hurdles are natural but can be incredibly frustrating for the concerned parent.

In their quest for identity adolescents often feel the need to test the boundaries and rules that they grew up with. This is often especially true where the boundaries and rules are strict. Whether they can articulate it or not, many are searching for something authentic and provable. This means that they often need to experience the things that were forbidden from them, such as alcohol. This was to test for themselves how good or bad the rule was.

Being aware of this is important as a parent or caregiver. Much of the behavior we would term “rebellious” is simply an adolescent attempt at finding the truth. The danger is that one-time substance use can and often does lead to addiction and substance abuse. Our role is to outline the risks involved with such behaviors, but before we can even do that, we need to initiate a rapport with the teenager.

Initiating rapport

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” is a saying to keep in mind when connecting with an adolescent. If children are adept at identifying insincerity in adults, then teens are experts at it. Remember that they believe they have “heard it all before.” This means that they will not benefit from yet another lecture on the dangers of substance use.

While it is important to outline facts for your teenager and to value education on these topics, there is a time to do this. And it comes in the context of a heart-to-heart or a meaningful conversation. This may be difficult to initiate, especially if the teen has begun pulling away and valuing privacy. Any questions like, “How was your day?” or, “How is school?” may be met with monosyllabic responses.

The teen needs to know you care and be respected and valued as an individual. It is important to not be condescending or to offer advice too quickly in conversations. No one likes that, least of all adolescents.

One good way to connect with your teen is to find some common ground. Involving them in household decisions, like asking their opinion on color choices in a design project, can be a small but important way of showing them that you value their input. Depending on their interests, you might ask them to teach you how to cook a meal, involve them in a DIY project, or ask them for help to perform a technology-based task.

Involving your teen in any task-based activity can be a good icebreaker, provided it doesn’t feel too much like a chore or responsibility. Teenagers often love the opportunity to be creative, so a task that requires them to provide their creative input could be helpful. These are small ways to initiate quality time with your teen, which may lead to a natural conversation about their well-being.

Remember to listen before you speak, and to ask before you give advice. Long before you can have an effective discussion about substance use, choices, and boundaries, you need to establish trust. They need to feel valued as individuals. In cases where they are already using or abusing substances, they will likely feel afraid and ashamed. They need reassurance and love before they can even begin disclosing their choices and actions.

How to get further help

It may be a turbulent experience to build trust with your teen. Perhaps you have spotted some potential red flags that would indicate substance abuse, but you are not able to establish a rapport with them. You might want to begin by speaking to a counselor to alleviate your concerns, or to develop a plan of action.

It is not uncommon to develop anxiety or depression in your concern as a parent. In this case, placing value on your mental and emotional health is wise. We can put you in touch with a professional counselor who may be able to provide the knowledge, insight, and emotional support you need to help your teen.