Teen+Drug+Additction

= = = Teen Drug Abuse. =

There is a high likelihood that a teen will be exposed to drugs.according to drug statistics from the National Institute on Drug Abuse there
====is a good chance that your teen will try drugs.Teens as young as 13 have often already tried drugs as powerful as cocaine. Most teens say, "Oh I'll only try this once and never again" but then they end up at a party and peer pressure kicks in and they try it again and again and soon they're hooked.==== Most teens don't start using drugs expecting to develop a drug abuse problem, and while most teens probably see their drug use as a casual way to have fun, there are negative effects that are a result of this use and abuse of drugs. The biggest consequence to casual drug use can be that it develops into a true addiction. Very few addicts recognize when they have crossed the line from casual use to addiction. = =

[|How to tell if you are a Drug Addict]
It may sound like a dumb question, but it very difficult to tell if you're a true addict.Here are some ways you can possibly tell if you're an addict.


 * You always feel the need to smoke or "take" drugs.
 * ====You may feel isolated, helpless, or ashamed.====
 * ====People who are addicted feel an overwhelming, uncontrollable need for drugs or alcohol, even in the face of negative consequences.====
 * ====You get feelings that interfere with your ability to think clearly, exercise good judgment, control your behavior, and feel normal without drugs.====

How addiction develops
= = Most kids will try drugs at least once Between 7th and 12th grade in High school. At first, the substance seems to solve the problem or make life better, so they use the drug more and more.Kids all over are using/abusing/buying/selling and growing drugs, In California alone there are about 700 marijuana busts about every 2 years.

=5 Myths about Drug Addiction and Substance Abuse=
 * MYTH 1: Overcoming addiction is a simply a matter of willpower.** You can stop using drugs if you really want to. Prolonged exposure to drugs alters the brain in ways that result in powerful cravings and a compulsion to use. These brain changes make it extremely difficult to quit by sheer force of will.
 * MYTH 2: Addiction is a disease; there’s nothing you can do about it.** Most experts agree that addiction is a brain disease, but that doesn’t mean you’re a helpless victim. The brain changes associated with addiction can be treated and reversed through therapy, medication, exercise, and other treatments.
 * MYTH 3: Addicts have to hit rock bottom before they can get better.** Recovery can begin at any point in the addiction process—and the earlier, the better. The longer drug abuse continues, the stronger the addiction becomes and the harder it is to treat. Don’t wait to intervene until the addict has lost it all.
 * MYTH 4: You can’t force someone into treatment; they have to want help.** Treatment doesn’t have to be voluntary to be successful. People who are pressured into treatment by their family, employer, or the legal system are just as likely to benefit as those who choose to enter treatment on their own. As they sober up and their thinking clears, many formerly resistant addicts decide they want to change.
 * MYTH 5: Treatment didn’t work before, so there’s no point trying again; some cases are hopeless.** Recovery from drug addiction is a long process that often involves setbacks. Relapse doesn’t mean that treatment has failed or that you’re a lost cause. Rather, it’s a signal to get back on track, either by going back to treatment or adjusting the treatment approach.



Why do some drug users become addicted, while others don’t?
As with many other conditions and diseases, vulnerability to addiction differs from person to person. Your genes, age when you started taking drugs, and family and social environment all play a role in addiction. Risk factors that increase your vulnerability include:
 * Family history of addiction.
 * Abuse, neglect, or other traumatic experiences in childhood.
 * Mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
 * Early use of drugs

Common signs and symptoms of drug abuse

 * You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of your drug use.
 * You’re using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.
 * Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.
 * Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of old friends.

Common signs and symptoms of drug addiction

 * **You’ve built up a drug tolerance.** You need to use more of the drug to experience the same effects you used to with smaller amounts.
 * **You take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms.** If you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.
 * **You’ve lost control over your drug use.** You often do drugs or use more than you planned, even though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel powerless.
 * **Your life revolves around drug use.** You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get them, and recovering from the drug’s effects.
 * **You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy,** such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of your drug use.
 * **You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you.** It’s causing major problems in your life—blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia—but you use anyway.

Behavioral signs of drug abuse

 * Drop in attendance and performance at work or school.
 * Unexplained need for money or financial problems. May borrow or steal to get it.
 * Engaging in secretive or suspicious behaviors.
 * Sudden change in friends, favorite hangouts, and hobbies.
 * Frequently getting into trouble (fights, accidents, illegal activities).

Psychological warning signs of drug abuse

 * Unexplained change in personality or attitude.
 * Sudden mood swings, irritability, or angry outbursts.
 * Periods of unusual hyperactivity, agitation, or giddiness.
 * Lack of motivation; appears lethargic or “spaced out.”
 * Appears fearful, anxious, or paranoid, with no reason.

Warning Signs of Teen Drug Use

 * Being secretive about friends, possessions, and activities.
 * New interest in clothing, music, and other items that highlight drug use.
 * Demanding more privacy; locking doors; avoiding eye contact; sneaking around.
 * Skipping class; declining grades; suddenly getting into trouble at school.
 * Missing money, valuables, or prescriptions.
 * Acting uncharacteristically isolated, withdrawn, or depressed.
 * Using incense, perfume, or air freshener to hide the smell of smoke or drugs.
 * Using eye drops to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils.

Finding help and support for drug addiction

 * Visit [|Narcotics Anonymous] to find a meeting in your area.
 * Call **1-800-662-HELP** to reach a free referral helpline from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Support is essential to addiction recovery
Don’t try to go it alone; it’s all too easy to get discouraged and rationalize “just one more” hit or pill. Whether you choose to go to rehab, rely on self-help programs, get therapy, or take a self-directed treatment approach, support is essential. Recovering from drug addiction is much easier when you have people you can lean on for encouragement, comfort, and guidance. Support can come from:
 * family members
 * close friends
 * therapists or counselors
 * other recovering addicts
 * health care providers
 * people from your faith community



13 Myths About Drug Abuse and Treatment – Article sets the record straight on thirteen commonly believed myths about drug abuse and addiction. (The Partnership for a Drug-Free America) Addiction and the Brain's Pleasure Pathway: Beyond Willpower – Describes how the brain becomes addicted and why relapse is so common. (HBO.com) Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction (PDF) – Booklet on drug addiction, including its effects on the brain and new approaches to preventing and treating the disease. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Signs and symptoms of drug abuse and drug addiction
Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use – Covers physical and behavior signs and symptoms of drug use, as well as drug specific symptoms. (American Council for Drug Education) Substance Abuse Symptoms Checklist – Checklist of substance abuse and drug addiction warning signs. Also see signs and symptoms in teens. (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the San Fernando Valley) Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use – Includes general signs and symptoms of drug use, as well as links to more detailed, drug-specific information. (Narconon International)

Common drugs of abuse
StreetTalk Pamphlets – Series of straight-talking pamphlets on the ever-changing world of street drugs. Includes articles on crystal meth, ecstasy, heroin, and club drugs, among others. (Do It Now Foundation) Prescription Drugs: Abuse and Addiction (PDF) – Government guide to the growing problem of nonmedical use or abuse of prescription drugs. (National Institute on Drug Abuse)

Drug abuse and drug addiction in teens and young adults
TeensHealth: Drugs and Alcohol – Straightforward talk on drug and alcohol abuse in a question and answer format, written for teens. (Nemours Foundation) Is Your Teen Using? Signs and Symptoms of Drug Use – Guide for parents on spotting the warning signs and symptoms of drug use in teens. (The Partnership for a Drug-Free America)

When a loved one has a drug problem
If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem, here are a few things you can do:
 * **Speak up.** Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for your loved one to hit bottom! Be prepared for excuses and denial with specific examples of behavior that has you worried.
 * **Take care of yourself**. Don’t get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you neglect your own needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support. And stay safe. Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.
 * **Don’t cover for the drug user**. Don’t make excuses or try to hide the problem. It’s natural to want to help a loved one in need, but protecting them from the negative consequences of their choices may keep them from getting the help they need.
 * **Avoid self-blame**. You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage treatment, but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s decisions. Let the person accept responsibility for his or her actions, an essential step along the way to recovery for drug addiction.