How To Address Substance Use In Teenagers

Although it may not be comfortable for parents to think about it, drug and alcohol use in adolescence is quite common, especially in teenagers. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, adolescents continue to express interest in experimenting with substances. Approximately two-thirds of high school students have tried alcohol by grade 12, and about 50% of high school students report having tried cannabis. When teens aren’t educated on the dangerous risks of these substances, they may experience pleasurable effects and be drawn into regular substance use.

Many people who end up using substances in excess started in their younger years. Many risk factors can lead a child or teenager to develop a substance use disorder, including traumatic events, a family history of substance use, social settings and peer pressure, low self-esteem, and mental health disorders. If you or a loved one is in need of support, reaching out to an online therapist to seek professional help may be a great way to start overcoming teen drug abuse and the resulting anxiety that parents can experience.

Substance use in adolescents

Teenage drug use statistics show that approximately 1 in 8 teenagers will engage with illicit drugs every year. Teens may be at an increased risk of long-lasting physical and emotional side effects of drug use.

The earlier in life someone begins using substances, the more likely they may be to develop substance use problems later in life. According to research from the National Institute of Mental Health, other negative consequences of substance use include an increased risk of developing a comorbid mental illness, such as depression or anxiety.

This risk may be especially true for drinking alcohol, which is often more available to teenagers due to parents and other families storing alcoholic beverages at home. When children and teens start drinking alcoholic beverages at a young age, it can increase their chances of consuming alcohol in excess later in life. 

Substance use disorders can lead to a number of health problems, including heart disease and increased heart attack risk, high blood pressure, liver failure, and sleep disorders. Also, if adolescents begin to use drugs or alcohol as a coping mechanism, they may be more likely to rely on them to navigate life’s basic challenges. This attitude towards substances can put them at greater risk of developing a substance use disorder.

Signs of teen substance use

Parents of adolescents may want to know more about how to recognize if their child is experimenting with substances. While substance use can look different for each individual, the following signs may indicate your teenager is developing an unhealthy relationship with drugs or alcohol:

• A change in sleeping patterns or eating habits
• Worsening academic performance
• Increased rule-breaking, such as skipping class or getting in trouble at school
• Visible indications of intoxication, including impaired coordination or incoherent speech
• Smelling like alcohol or smoke, or suddenly using a large amount of perfume/cologne or air fresheners to mask such scents
• Possessing drug paraphernalia, which may include rolling papers, baggies, vials, syringes, etc.
• Struggling with concentration or problem-solving

Types of substances

Alcohol and other drug use can have specific effects on brain activity. When a person consumes a substance, certain chemicals are released that can lead to temporary pleasurable effects. Substances fall into a few different categories, including stimulants, depressants, and psychedelics, and some drugs fall into multiple categories. Below are some of the most common categories of substances used by teens.

Stimulants

Stimulants are a class of drugs that increase blood pressure throughout the body and make the brain produce neurotransmitters, such as dopamine, at a more rapid pace than normal. This change can make a person feel energized, excited, and present. Various types of stimulants include cocaine, amphetamines, nicotine, and caffeine.

Stimulants can be dangerous because after using a stimulant, many people experience a “crash” or “comedown” effect, which can make them feel tired, moody, or depressed. This mood change can cause them to reach for the substance again. Repeating this process may lead to stimulant addiction.

Depressants

Depressants tend to relax the nervous system. Alcohol is the most common depressant used by teenagers, which may be because it’s usually fairly available and teens may have seen it consumed by adults, including parents and caregivers. When drinking alcohol, people may feel looser and less inhibited, which can lead people to make choices they normally wouldn’t.

Some prescription drugs, such as benzodiazepines including Xanax and other drugs intended to treat anxiety symptoms, are also considered depressants and have a high potential for abuse. Although these substances can make a person feel euphoria and other pleasurable feelings, they can lead to adverse effects. 

Cannabis has been considered a depressant as well as a hallucinogen. It can be consumed in different ways; smoking cannabis is common, but “edibles'' have become an attractive option for teenagers. 

Psychedelics

Psychedelics are drugs that can make a person see, hear, and even try to touch things that aren’t there. Examples of these are psilocybin (commonly referred to as mushrooms) and LSD (commonly referred to as acid). While these drugs are showing significant potential for the treatment of mental illness in a therapeutic setting, using them recreationally and without the supervision of a medical professional remains risky. The images, sounds, and feelings people experience can feel very real.

Some over-the-counter medications, especially cough suppressants, can be used in ways that produce hallucinogenic or deliriant effects, and like alcohol, these substances are fairly easy for teens to get their hands on as their parents might have them at home. However, in many places, individuals must be at least 18 years old to purchase some of these types of medications.

Opioids

One of the most dangerous forms of teen substance use involves the use of opioids. Opioids are a subclass of depressants and include illegal drugs such as heroin but also prescription medications, such as oxycodone and morphine, that are frequently prescribed as painkillers. Opioids are highly addictive and an addiction to prescription opioids can often result in a transition to illegal opioid use. Although doctors are starting to move away from prescribing opioids for pain management because of their high addiction risk, these drugs are still often employed for short-term pain, such as recovery from surgery. Teens can be exposed to opioids when they find such prescription pills in their parent’s medicine cabinet. Families with adolescents should keep these high-risk drugs in a safe place.

Teens may benefit from being taught the specific effects of various kinds of substances, including the risk of addiction. Even if one person appears to have an enjoyable time while using a certain substance, another person may have a very different reaction; substances can affect a person differently based on their weight, body composition, and mental state. In general, discouraging teens from engaging in substances may prevent long-term problems, including addiction.

Delaying substance use

Teens, like adults, think about both risks and rewards of their actions when they consider engaging in certain behaviors. However, many teens and young adults may choose to ignore risks in certain situations in hopes that the reward will have a strong positive impact. If a teen’s friends are using substances, it increases the risk that the teenager will eventually experiment with substances as well.

Teens can learn how to resist peer pressure to use alcohol or drugs, whether a friend is explicitly asking them to drink with them, or they feel more implicit pressure, such as a sense of awkwardness in being the only sober one at a party. Although it may feel uncomfortable at the moment, pushing back against social pressures will help a teenager engage with substances on their own terms, which may reduce their likelihood of addiction. Research shows the chances of developing a substance use disorder may significantly decrease if adolescents wait until their brains are fully developed (around age 25) to try alcohol or other drugs.

Getting answers and seeking support

Research shows that substance use among teens is fairly common. Although many people experiment at some point, substance abuse and addiction can be serious causes for concern among teenagers. For a teen who experiences a substance use disorder, addiction treatment may be a great opportunity to seek emotional support and tackle any unhealthy coping mechanisms. Licensed therapists at TeenCounseling may be able to help them understand how various substances affect their body and mind and help them find solutions tailored to their specific concerns, including optional group sessions where they can connect with peers navigating the same challenges.

If a teenager in your home doesn’t feel comfortable with group therapy or individual in-person therapy, they may respond well to online therapy, such as that offered at TeenCounseling or BetterHelp (for those 18 and older). Research has shown online therapy to be just as effective as in-person therapy, and it tends to be more affordable than in-person therapy programs without insurance.