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Is My Drug Use Taking Control of My Life?

Do you remember the first time you tried drugs? Experimenting with drugs may have seemed like a pretty cool thing to do. You know you’re doing something forbidden – even a bit dangerous – and that’s a big rush of adrenaline! Maybe you tried smoking pot with your best friend at a party or popped some Molly when it got passed around at a music festival. Suddenly, your whole world changed. Goodbye to that test you didn’t ace, the kids who made fun of you yesterday, that big fight you just had with your parents… none of that matters anymore. You’re cool, you’re part of the right crowd, and you’re finally showing the world just how grown up and mature you really are. Drug use in teens is a growing issue that can lead you down a dangerous and unhealthy path. Taking drugs to feel older, fit in, or forget about your problems may sound like a cool, mature move. When you’re experimenting with drugs, it’s easy to feel like you’re in control of your drug use. Bad things like overdosing only happen to other kids, right? You know what you’re doing. Drugs don’t control your life: you control them. Without even realizing it, however, the tables can quickly turn and you are no longer “in control” with drugs – they are controlling you. Have any of the following happened to you? If so, it’s time to seek out the teen treatment programs that can help you recover.

Signs of Drug Use in Teens

#1: “School is getting a lot harder; it’s tough to pay attention in class and keep up with my school work. My grades are not as good as they used to be.”

Sure, you may not be using drugs during the school day, but that doesn’t mean drugs are not still affecting your academic performance. Drugs, including marijuana, can make it more difficult to concentrate. Drugs affect your memory and ability to learn. (1)

#2: “Last weekend I left a party while I was still high and drove home.”

Driving under the influence of any substance – be that marijuana, alcohol, or another drug – impairs your reaction time and judgment. Not only are you risking your own life, but you’re also putting the lives of your friends who are in the car with you at risk, as well as the lives of every driver on the road.

#3: “I thought I knew what drug I was taking but it turned out to be something else. I ended up getting really sick.”

Even if you know and trust the person you bought these drugs from, their ingredients may not be as pure as you (or your friend) think that they are. For example, most ecstasy is not actually MDMA. (2) Each time you take drugs is like playing Russian roulette – you might be okay, but you might overdose or even die. You just don’t know. It’s that risky.

#4: “I had sex when I did not want to.”

Being under the influence of drugs means you’re more likely to make risky decisions, like having sex with a stranger or someone you don’t feel comfortable with, having unprotected sex, or having multiple sexual partners. (3) Drug use also increases the risk of sexual assault.

Teen Drug Addiction Treatment in California

Have you done or experienced any of these things? If so, drug use could be taking over your life. It’s never too late to get back in control. Talk to a drug counselor today to learn more about how drug use affects your life and what you can do to be back in control. Don’t let drug use in teens continue to negatively impact your life. To learn more about how we can help you take back control of your life and overcome drug addiction, contact Destinations for Teens at 877.466.0620.


Sources:

  1. Mayo Clinic Staff, Teen Drug Abuse: Help Your Teen with Drugs, Jan 12, 2013, Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-drug-abuse/art-20045921
  2. Australian Government Department of Health and Aging, How Drug Use Can Impact Your Life, National Drugs Campaign, http://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/content/campaign/$file/How%20drug%20use%20can%20impact%20your%20life.pdf
  3. Mayo Clinic Staff, Teen Drug Abuse: Help Your Teen with Drugs, Jan 12, 2013, Mayo Clinic, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/teen-drug-abuse/art-20045921