Teen Drug Use
A recent study has been released on December 10, 2010 by the National Institute on Drug Abuse that reports teen drug use is on the rise. In this report it shows that marijuana and prescription drug use has increased by 2% in the last year.
I think its time we as a nation stop this absurd approach of treating drugs like some taboo thing. Lets face it, proof is in the pudding and teens are going to want to experiment with these things. And who can blame them, look at all the adults around them who are doing it. Why would adults feel that teens shouldn’t when everyone else is?
In addressing something like this I think it is important to discuss each drug separately:
1. Marijuana – While I don’t think it is productive or healthy for teens to be smoking pot, I am totally against the fact that it is thrown in with other drugs since it really is not a drug. It is a plant and is natural to this planet. And although its use can have negative effects, it is not addicting like prescription drugs. If your teen is smoking marijuana, the first thing as a parent that you need to do is TRULY educate yourself on what this plant is and does. As an ex-troubled teen I smoked marijuana daily for twelve years and know of all its negative and positive effects. “Positive effects” you ask? Yes, there are positive effects. I know of many of my peers who it actually helped calm them down and made them less aggressive (many used to get in fights and then stopped after smoking marijuana). The truth of the matter is that smoking marijuana is not bad just like sweets are not bad. But without balance and proper education it can cause negative effects (just like anything in life). And if your teen is using the plant to escape issues, the plant is not the problem. It means your teen has a deep rooted issue and smoking pot is just a symptom. The main thing here is that if your teen smokes marijuana without being properly educated (which is what is happening since our country has made it illegal), this is what causes the worst effects because teens are going to want to experiment with this stuff anyways so the best thing to do is to educate them on all aspects both positive and negative about what smoking marijuana can do.
2. Prescription drugs – Pills are drugs. It’s even in the name. Ironically these are legal to adults (not teens) and therefore not as taboo (which is ironic since prescription drugs can cause much more damage then marijuana). Prescription drugs do nothing but suppress or mask feelings and emotions. In fact, drugs do so much damage because when your body is telling you something is wrong and that you need to fix it or look at it, people take a pill to make the pain go away which is the exact opposite of what a healthy person would want to do.
Regardless of whether your teen is smoking pot or taking pills just remember:
1. They have a much deeper issue at hand and that taking any drug is just a symptom, not the root cause of the problem.
2. Your teens are going to do what they want with or without you so your best bet is to educate them and let them know strongly (without pushing them away) that it is not a healthy choice for them to get wrapped up in any outside toxins (including alcohol) to be put in their bodies.
3. Should they choose to experiment, that they need to be aware of the consequences both from a health and legal perspective.
The key factor in teen drug use is to keep the lines of communication open and let them know firmly how you feel without getting angry or pushing them away.