Addictions

Meth is short for methamphetamine, a stimulant drug, and there is only one legal type of methamphetamine, which is used to treat ADD, ADHD, and occasionally obesity. Most other types of meth are manufactured illegally in hidden meth labs and are extremely dangerous. If you suspect that your teen could be using meth, it is important that you address the issue immediately. Below you will find the three most important basic facts about meth and meth use:

1. It happens more than you might think.

Meth is definitely not the most popular drug among teenagers, but it is used more often than you might think. Although meth use among teens has been declining over the past ten years, it is still a commonly used drug. Over tree percent of teens in the 10th grade report having used meth in the past year, and approximately one in 25 students in the 12th grade report meth use within the past year. In the population as a whole, nearly 9 million people have tried methamphetamines at least once in their lives, and this is particularly troubling when presented with the fact that many adult drug users, meth users included, tried drugs for the first time during their teens.

2. Meth is very dangerous.

As a manufactured drug, meth is incredibly dangerous and unpredictable. Meth is often concocted in home labs, meaning there’s no telling what a particular batch could contain, and although the basis for meth is usually pills for treating common ailments, the end product is much more dangerous. Chemicals are extracted from these otherwise harmless pills, and then they are mixed with substances to increase meth’s potency, such as battery acid, ammonia, drain cleaner, lantern fuel, and antifreeze.

In addition to causing sudden, unpredictable death, meth use can also cause a number of serious and harmful side effects. The drug is highly addictive, which means that stopping meth use is remarkably difficult and can cause painful withdrawal symptoms. Brain damage is one of the most severe side effects of long term meth use, and many people have compared meth’s particular type of brain damage to Alzheimer’s Disease.

3. Meth signs are hard to distinguish.

Unfortunately for concerned parents, the symptoms of meth use are rather difficult to distinguish from the symptoms of other types of drug use. Changes in sleep patterns, appetite, and mood are common, but these could be easily confused with other drugs’ signs. Meth is characterized, however, by its ability to cause unusual levels of aggression and agitation. One of the only indicators of meth use that is unique to the drug is a symptom known as “meth mouth.” Meth mouth is the informal name for the drug’s ability to cause addicts to lose their teeth abnormally quickly. The drug causes dry mouth and teeth grinding and clenching, both of which contribute to teeth rot and loss.

If you suspect that your teen may be using meth, it is important to address the problem promptly. Meth use can result in a multitude of negative side effects, and although they are difficult to distinguish from other drug use symptoms, you should still seek professional assistance if you have reason to believe that your teenaged son or daughter could be using drugs.

Alcohol is one of the most commonly abused drugs among teenagers, and, despite what some parents might believe, this is not a substance that should be taken lightly. Alcohol is a psychoactive substance, and, although its use is widely socially acceptable – and indeed, often even encouraged-, this does not mean that alcohol use is safe. This is especially true when it comes to alcohol use in teens. Below you will find the top three important basic facts about alcohol use in teens:

1. Drinking as a teen is very dangerous.

Drinking as a teenager poses a number of risks to your child; some of these drinking risks you yourself share as an adult, and some are unique only to teenaged drinkers. If a child drinks alcohol at a young age, statistically, they are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors. Children who drink before the age of fifteen, for example, are four times more likely to develop a dependence on alcohol than those who begin drinking at the legal age of twenty-one. Teens who drink illegally are also more likely to try other illegal drugs. Those who drink alcohol before age fifteen are over twenty-two times more likely to smoke marijuana, and they’re fifty times more likely to use cocaine than their non-drinking teenaged counterparts. Moreover, young teens who drink alcohol are twice as likely to engage in promiscuous sexual activity than those teenagers who choose not to drink, and experts estimate that nearly two-thirds of sexual assault and date rape cases among young people involve alcohol.

These side effects are in addition, of course, to alcohol’s many other potential dangers, such as an alcohol overdose, which could result in brain damage, coma, or even death. Alcohol abuse is also responsible for a number of car accidents, homicides, and other violent and sometimes deadly incidents each year. As you can see, despite alcohol’s widespread acceptance in social situations, teen drinking is a serious issue and can pose a number of dangerous consequences to your child.

2. Teen drinking is relatively easy to spot.

Fortunately, unlike some other drugs, alcohol use is rather easy to pinpoint in your teen. Because alcohol use is so common, the symptoms of alcohol use are very well-known. If your teen is exhibiting any of the following symptoms, especially if they’re accompanied by an odor of alcohol, then there is a good chance that your son or daughter is intoxicated:

• Slurred speech
• Impaired balance
• Loss of muscle coordination
• Flushed face
• Erratic behavior
• Apparent Euphoria
• Vomiting
• Confusion

If you suspect that your teen could be abusing alcohol, it is also important to consider your family history. Teens from a family with a history of alcohol abuse are much more likely to develop a dependence on alcohol themselves, so you should consider this when attempting to help your teen.

3. It’s possible to discourage your teen from drinking.

Lucky for parents, there is hope in discouraging your teen from abusing alcohol. Although some degree of teenage rebellion and experimentation is nearly inevitable (and alcohol is a likely culprit for this type of behavior due to its ready availability and social acceptance), discussing the consequences of alcohol abuse with your teen is usually surprisingly effective at preventing them from drinking. Teens who have a close relationship with their families are much less likely to drink alcohol than teens whose parents are less involved in their lives, so as a parent, it’s essential that you make an effort to develop a meaningful relationship with your teen. It could just save their life.

Teen drug use is a constant worry for the 21st century parent. These substances roam the halls of schools and appear in harmless looking forms such as brownies. Knowing the effects a drug such as marijuana can have on your child will allow you to pick out the warning signs. Never underestimate the power of talking to your child before they encounter an issue. You have the knowledge and years under your belt to express to them what a drug dealer will look and sound like. Tell them how that substance will affect their life. Express the negative impacts you have experienced or witnessed.

What Is Marijuana?

Often called the gateway drug, marijuana is a blend of leaves, seeds, and stems from the cannabis sativa plant. The active chemical in this drug is THC (delta9-tetahydrocannabinol). Four hundred other chemicals hide among those leaves and many of them adversely affect the health of humans. The amount of THC directly correlates to the effectiveness of the “high” or euphoria felt when marijuana is used. THC levels have risen since the 1970s to dangerous levels in 2010. Keep an ear open for terms like pot, herb, Mary Jane, reefer, or ganja. All of them are synonyms for marijuana, and none can be trusted.

Why Teens Do It

The lure of marijuana is in the lie that it is harmless. Everyone does marijuana, so how can it be bad? This is the kind of thought process that results in many teens’ mistakes. Seeing a friend smoke a joint, loose marijuana rolled into a cigarette, or hearing about a celebrity doing drugs may lead them down the same road. Peer pressure is powerful even if that pressure is imaginary. Knowing the kinds of friends and entertainment choices your teen is making will help to keep you abreast of the situation. If marijuana does rear its ugly head, be up front with your teen. Ask them if they have done it, and make it clear that you are worried about their health, not looking to get them in trouble. The action of getting high may be second to the rush of knowing that they got away with it.

Effects

The symptoms to look out for are rather obvious with marijuana. An active, healthy teenager will become lethargic, lack coordination skills, and have blood shot eyes. Decision making skills will also be impaired. All of these symptoms could manifest in a sudden drop in grades or disinterest in activities they enjoyed previously. Besides the short-term problems, marijuana affects memory and the ability to learn. Watching for these symptoms will allow for early intervention.

Pay attention to the habits of your child as they grow into a teenager. This is a time of extreme changes, whether drug use is present or not. The knowledge of previous behaviors will equip any parent to spot drug use in their teen. Most importantly, a solid relationship with a young child will translate into the teen years. Using that trust and openness to discuss drug use early on is crucial to the success of any teenager.