Drugs and Youth

Why Do Kids Start Using Drugs?

No teen or adult intends to become a drug addict.  No one ever anticipates that he or she could get hooked.   At first, kids experiment with "gateway drugs" such as tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.  When they crave a more powerful "high," they "graduate" to the harder drugs such as pills, Ecstasy, methamphetamines, cocaine, and heroin.  Kids are naturally curious about drugs and wonder what kind of effects different drugs will have on their minds and bodies.  Teens also seek peer acceptance, want to "fit in" and be "cool."  They look to older peers as role models, but they also emulate adults:  musicians, other popular idols, and especially their parents.  When parents are addicted to nicotine or other drugs or when they cope with stress by using alcohol or pills, they present a dangerous example to their children:  "If you feel bad, a drug can make you feel better."

Teens use drugs to feel good and get high.  They seek thrills and excitement.  But sometimes they use drugs to feel "normal."  If young people have psychiatric or emotional problems such as anxiety or depression, they may use drugs to counteract their tension, sad feelings, or pain.  For this reason, it is urgently important for parents to establish good communication with their children from an early age and to be alert to symptoms of psychological disorders.  If a child appears depressed or unduly anxious, it is crucial for the parents to seek expert psychiatric counseling for their child.

Stages of Drug Use and Abuse

Not all teens who try drugs become addicts.  Many quit at the early stages and discontinue drug use altogether; others remain users of gateway drugs and never progress to harder drugs or dependence.  What makes some people continue their use of drugs despite adverse affects and descend to the depths of addiction?  Some of the factors which make a person more inclined toward drug addiction include: genetic predisposition (family history of drug addiction), psychological problems, outside stresses, and drug-using peers.

In the experimentation stage, young teens are curious about how drugs will affect them.  They are often offered their first drugs, usually marijuana, not by evil adult "drug pushers" but by friends and acquaintances.  Since their bodies are not accustomed to the drug, it is easy to get "high."  They use drugs mainly on weekends with their peers and often enjoy the risk of doing something they perceive as grown-up and forbidden.  In the second stage, they move to actively seeking and purchasing the drug and making plans to get high.  They get intoxicated on weekdays as well as weekends and may drop some of their extracurricular interests in favor of drug-related activities.  They may befriend new companions who use drugs and may begin lying about their whereabouts and actions. 

In the next stage, teens become preoccupied with drugs and seek stronger and more dangerous "highs."  School performance suffers as does their relationship with family due to their deceitfulness and irritability.  These teens may be truant from school or even expelled.  If they are working, they may be fired from their jobs due to negligence or irresponsibility. They may start stealing or selling drugs in order to finance their drug "habit."  At this point, they use drugs almost daily and have given up their "straight" friends who don't take drugs in favor of colleagues who are involved in the drug culture. Young users may deny their dependence on drugs, or they may realize it and unsuccessfully try to quit or reduce their intake.  In the last stage of addiction, users take drugs not to feel high but to feel OK.  Having developed a tolerance for the drug, they need more and more of it in order to avoid painful withdrawal symptoms.  Physical, mental, and emotional systems deteriorate; feelings of shame, guilt, remorse, and depression may become overwhelming and lead to hopelessness and even suicide.

Adults Can Help

Parents, grandparents, neighbors, teachers, counselors and other concerned adults can prevent this downward cycle of drug abuse in numerous ways.

§        Show caring and acceptance of kids, not just for how they perform but because they are valuable human beings.

§        Build security, self-esteem and good values in children.  Help them develop the ability to cope with their emotions and the skills to solve problems and make good decisions.

§        Encourage good school performance, but in a supportive rather than punitive way.  Parents and teachers should work as a team to deal with any learning problems children may exhibit.  Kids who feel good about themselves at school are less likely to use drugs.

§        Teach kids healthy ways to have fun and to cope with stress:  sports, music, art, friendships, relaxation techniques.  Kids who are motivated in creative activities are less likely to seek drugs out of boredom.

§        Develop good communication with children by listening and being nonjudgmental.  Be interested in their views, feelings, and activities.

§        Help children adjust to new situations, especially moves to different towns or schools. 

§        While they are still in elementary school, talk to children about drugs, but not with a lecturing or reprimanding approach.  Be curious about what they know and what they want to know.  Encourage them to ask questions and discuss the consequences of using drugs.  Research accurate and up-to-date information about drugs together.

§        Be a good role model.  When adults say, "I've had a tough day; I really need my cigarette/whisky/pills," they are sending the message that it is easier to rely on outside chemicals rather than inner coping skills to relieve tension or deal with unpleasant emotions.

§        Know the effects of the drugs which are most prevalent in your community and be alert to the signs and symptoms of drug use in your teens.

Symptoms of Drug Abuse

§        Personality Changes

Lack of motivation, "I don't care" attitude

Less involvement at home

Irritability and argumentativeness

Lethargic behavior

Unexplained mood swings alternating between depression and anxiety or hyperactivity

§        Physical Changes

Unkempt appearance

Weight loss, pale face, circles under eyes

Red eyes, dilated eye pupils

Persistent cough, frequent colds, low resistance to illness

Changes in sleep patterns

§        Behavioral Changes

Intoxicated behavior, slurred speech

School attendance problems

Drop in school grades

Inability to concentrate; short attention span

Increased need for money

Secretiveness about new friends

Lying, conning, mysterious phone calls

Spending more time in room or away from home

Rebelliousness

Verbal abuse toward family members

Tantrums over seemingly minor issues

§        Physical Evidence

Eye drops, mouth wash or breath sprays

Drug paraphernalia such as rolling papers and "roach clips" or pipes for marijuana, needles for heroin

Actual drugs or plastic bags with drug remnants

Prevention and Treatment

Drug abuse is an individual, family and community problem.  These are our children, and we are responsible for nurturing them to become productive, physically and emotionally healthy drug-free adults.  When they fall into drug abuse or addiction, we all need to help and not condemn or abandon them. 

Society must make strides to educate children, parents, teachers, and the community at large about drugs and methods of prevention, early identification, and treatment.  Drug prevention education should be incorporated into the school curriculum at all levels, through courses in health and physical education which are interesting and relevant rather than didactic and memorization-driven.  Classes such as biology, social studies, and even language arts can offer current information about the dangers and consequences of drug use.  These classes should involve active learning techniques in which youngsters discover their own truths and feel comfortable participating in class discussions where they can ask questions and voice their concerns. 

Enjoyable recreational activities as well as mentoring by adults who provide good role models help to prevent drug use and steer children in positive directions.  Teens need to be offered guidance and help if they face any kinds of problems:  school difficulties, troubles in their relationships with peers, or family problems such as divorce, family violence, or parents who are impaired due to psychological disorders or drug abuse.  Informed school pedagogues must be available to identify high-risk teens before these young people turn to drugs.  It is crucial to intervene at the early stages of drug use by providing counseling and support so that the young user does not progress to harder drugs and more frequent use.  Community mental health centers, inpatient and outpatient drug treatment facilities, and self-help groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous must be established to provide counseling for drug users and their families.  Our youth are the future of this country, and we owe it to them to use all our capabilities to encourage them to develop to their fullest potential.

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Updated: 2/6/2009