Minneapolis MN Drug Addiction; Concerns That Increase The Risk Of Teens Getting Addicted

By Nancy Patterson


According to recent research, nearly 50% of new drug users are teens. Even though most of them do not end up addicted, merely trying out the drugs increases their chances of ending up in treatment programs. As a parent, you have a responsibility of knowing the risk factors that could get your loved one chained to drug dependency. A dependable Minneapolis MN drug addiction therapist can offer you priceless help if your kid is a substance abuse patient.

For most kids, they will try drugs with the hopes of fitting in. They may be curious to find out what would happen if they acted with some drugs in their system. Here are other circumstances that may increase the odds of your child trying drugs and possibly getting addicted in the course of it.

Community poverty affects the youth in more ways than one. Young people living in poverty stricken areas are three times more vulnerable to using drugs that those within fortunate neighborhoods. Lack of money increases substance abuse because it is also closely allied with unstable family relationships, unemployment and an increased vulnerability to both physical and mental health problems.

Some teens will use drugs because they lack adult supervision. This makes the feel grown enough to drink alcohol or use prescribed pills that they find around the house. Once they are comfortable with what they do, they will even exchange drugs with other kids within the neighborhood. To prevent this from happening, seek help with monitoring your kids when you are busy or away from home.

Mental health issues also double the risk of a young adult turning into a drug addict. Teens who suffer from depression and anxiety may use drugs like marijuana, opiates or alcohol to cope with their feelings. These drugs give them temporary relief and their chances of becoming dependent on them are higher. If a problem is not caught early, they may eventually end up in psychiatric hospitals of addiction treatment programs.

A lot of physical and emotional changes take place once one turns into a teenager. During this phase of life, it is common for kids to experience some amount of peer pressure. Although not all of them get attracted to controlled substances, there are those that will not resist the urge. Kids from dysfunctional families or those with mental issues are more likely to get affected by peer pressure.

There are avenues where the youth can get educated about the dangers of using drugs. Substance abuse education also involves enhancing their self-image and helping them to understand that they do not need to be high to get their goals achieved. Empowered teens are usually at lesser risk of using drugs because of peer pressure.

Having strict rules, constantly supervising your teens and even ensuring their good mental health may not mean much if you live within an area where drug availability is not a problem. Unfortunately, research shows that drugs are easy to find within school settings. It remains imperative for you to therefore choose private or public institutions that uphold strong anti-drug policies. Such institutions may even provide mandatory drug abuse education courses to further set their students on the right path.




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