Are you a concerned parent?
Nothing is more destructive to a teen and/or their family than the use of drugs. The problem is that in most cases teens are using drugs for several months or even years before parents become aware of it. Even when parents do become aware of drug use, they often underestimate the extent of their child’s involvement.If you are suspicious your child may be using drugs, don’t ignore the warning signs.
Children seldom grasp the concepts of addiction. Most view themselves as imperious to peril. For some teens, the stress of adolescence and pressure from their peers is overwhelming, and drugs become an enticing escape from their real world.
Denial and shame in response to drug abuse, for the user or their family, will only serve to be additional obstacles to overcome.
Parents often say they want to know everything that is going on in their children’s lives. Certain topics, such as children’s sexual behaviour, underage drinking, and violence are subjects so uncomfortable parents often choose to ignore them, or perhaps only lightly approach them, often cloaked in denial, hoping these issues will not affect their family. Parents recognise consequences of these issues can be frightening. However, silently clinging to the denial and hope that these issues will not be part of their children’s lives can create an equally devastating consequence. Putting on blinders will never create resolutions. The subject of teenage drug abuse is very wide and multifaceted, involving many drugs and their variations.
As we search for solutions that would protect our children from the perils of substance abuse, the questions arises as to why they would ever want to use them at all. From an adult perspective the repeated question is, ‘Who’s to blame?’ Often looking to transfer responsibility, the adult population frequently points the finger of blame outward. Depending on who you ask you may hear a range of criticism that includes the media, peer influence, lack of supervision from school officials, drug pushers, law enforcement’s lack of authority, law enforcement’s overreaction, kid’s role models, parental indulgence, to lack of parental involvement. There is no denying that these can be contributing factors, as outside influences can be very read more
