Today there was a presentation related to adolescents and the drugs abuse.
I think it is a good topic to talk about because nobody knows if we, as teachers or parents, will have to face a problem like this.
For that reason I think it's interesting to know some tips about it and being aware.
Teenagers may be involved with legal or illegal drugs in various ways. Experimentation with drugs during adolescence is common. Unfortunately, teenagers often don’t see the link between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience.
Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop a dependency or addiction, often moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.
Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up, or to fit in. It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.
Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those:
with a family history of substance abuse
who are depressed
who feel like they don’t fit in or are out of the mainstream
Using alcohol and tobacco at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Some teens will experiment and stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others will develop a dependency or addiction, often moving on to more dangerous drugs and causing significant harm to themselves and possibly others.
Adolescence is a time for trying new things. Teens use drugs for many reasons, including curiosity, because it feels good, to reduce stress, to feel grown up, or to fit in. It is difficult to know which teens will experiment and stop and which will develop serious problems.
Teenagers at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those:
with a family history of substance abuse
who are depressed
who feel like they don’t fit in or are out of the mainstream
Also I would like to show you some extra information I found about this topic.
The following behaviors can be warning signs of problems related to alcohol or other drug use.
Physical
Fatigue
Repeated health complaints
Frequent flu-like episodes, chest pains, "allergy" symptoms, chronic cough
Red and glazed eyes
Impaired ability to fight off common infections and fatigue
Impaired short-term memory
Change in health or grooming
Emotional
Personality change
Sudden mood changes
Irritability, anger, hostility
Irresponsible behavior
Low self-esteem
Poor judgment
Feelings of loneliness, paranoia, or depression
Apathy or general lack of interest
Change in personal priorities
Family Relationships
Decreased interest in the family and family activities
Starting arguments
Negative attitude
Verbal (or physical) mistreatment of younger siblings
Breaking rules
Withdrawing from family
Secretiveness
Failure to provide specific answers to questions about activities
Personal time that is unaccounted for
Lying and dishonesty
Unexplained disappearance of possessions in the home
Increased money or poor justification of how money was spent
School Activities
Decreased interest
Negative attitude
Unexplained drop in grades
Irregular school attendance
Truancy
Discipline problems
Not returning home after school
Peer Relationships
Dropping old friends
New group of friends
Not bringing friends home
New friends who make poor decisions and are not interested in school or family activities
Changes to a different style in dress and music
Attending parties with no parental supervision
Some of the warning signs listed above can also be signs of other problems. Parents may recognize signs of trouble but should not be expected to make the diagnosis.
Consulting a physician to rule out physical causes of the warning signs is a good first step. This should often be followed or accompanied by a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional.
Physical
Fatigue
Repeated health complaints
Frequent flu-like episodes, chest pains, "allergy" symptoms, chronic cough
Red and glazed eyes
Impaired ability to fight off common infections and fatigue
Impaired short-term memory
Change in health or grooming
Emotional
Personality change
Sudden mood changes
Irritability, anger, hostility
Irresponsible behavior
Low self-esteem
Poor judgment
Feelings of loneliness, paranoia, or depression
Apathy or general lack of interest
Change in personal priorities
Family Relationships
Decreased interest in the family and family activities
Starting arguments
Negative attitude
Verbal (or physical) mistreatment of younger siblings
Breaking rules
Withdrawing from family
Secretiveness
Failure to provide specific answers to questions about activities
Personal time that is unaccounted for
Lying and dishonesty
Unexplained disappearance of possessions in the home
Increased money or poor justification of how money was spent
School Activities
Decreased interest
Negative attitude
Unexplained drop in grades
Irregular school attendance
Truancy
Discipline problems
Not returning home after school
Peer Relationships
Dropping old friends
New group of friends
Not bringing friends home
New friends who make poor decisions and are not interested in school or family activities
Changes to a different style in dress and music
Attending parties with no parental supervision
Some of the warning signs listed above can also be signs of other problems. Parents may recognize signs of trouble but should not be expected to make the diagnosis.
Consulting a physician to rule out physical causes of the warning signs is a good first step. This should often be followed or accompanied by a comprehensive evaluation by a mental health professional.
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