Do you suspect your teen is using drugs and needs to enroll in an adolescent treatment center? You should be talking to your teen about drugs whether you suspect they are using or not. Talking to your teen about drugs is certainly difficult, but it is necessary in order to prevent detrimental consequences. The number of people who overdose from drugs each year is increasing at startling rates. The number of overdoses in 2017 was just over 70,000 people. What’s even more disturbing is that of these people, many were teens and young adults. Talking to your teen about drugs and teaching them the dangers of addiction are some of the best ways to prevent your teen from becoming a statistic.Â
Why Do Teens Use Drugs?
Before talking to your teen about drugs, it’s crucial to understand what might motivate teens and young adults to turn to drugs in the first place. There are a variety of reasons, some of which include:
- Wanting to fit in with their peers
- Feelings of anxiousness or depression
- Struggling with a mental health condition that is currently not being treatedÂ
- Trying to cope with stress
- Numbing the pain of some type of abuse
When you know the reason behind your teen’s drug use, it is easier to find the best treatment program for them. For example, if your teen is struggling with both a mental health condition and an addiction to drugs or alcohol, a dual diagnosis treatment program may be a good fit for them.Â
Talking To Your Teen About Drugs
Being proactive and talking to your teen about drugs early on can help stop them from ever wanting to explore drugs in the first place. Sometimes just having the conversation and opening lines of communication can show your teen that they can come to you if something happens down the road. It’s easy to panic if you suspect your teen is doing drugs, and this is normal, but showing signs of panic, stress, anger, or anxiety about the topic can alienate your teen and prevent them from confiding in you. Here are a few tips for talking to your teen about drugs:
- Be calm when discussing this topic. If you’re upset, wait until you have your emotions under control
- Let your teen know that you love them and are always there to help
- Provide your teen with information about the risks and consequences of drug use
- If your teen has confided in you about drug use, make sure they know that there is hope and finding sobriety is possible
- Let your teen know that drug or alcohol addiction is a disease that can be treated
While talking to your teen about drugs can be difficult, having this conversation will alleviate your teen’s mind and could prevent problems in the future. If your teen is struggling with an addiction to drugs or alcohol, then reaching out for help is the next step.
Adolescent Addiction Treatment At Destinations For Teens
At Destinations for Teens, we offer several teen substance abuse treatment programs for your loved one, some of which include:
- Alcohol addiction treatment program
- Drug addiction treatment program
- Marijuana addiction treatment programÂ
- Opioid addiction treatment program
- Heroin addiction treatment program
Your teen will be welcomed warmly by our compassionate team of professional caregivers. Their expertise and care will guide to a place of inner healing. Don’t let substance abuse harm your family. If you suspect your loved one is developing an addiction, talking to your teen about drugs is the first step to finding recovery. Your teen can find sobriety by enrolling in one of our teen treatment centers. To learn more, contact Destinations for Teens today at 877.466.0620. Citations Centers for Disease Control, https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html