Treatment for Troubled Teens

Seventh in a series.

Treatment for Troubled Teens-Early intervention in teen substance use is part of deterring the problem. People too quickly think they have missed the opportunity for "prevention" once a teen uses.

Treatment for Troubled Teens-Yet there is still the opportunity to prevent continued use, to make this something that happened a few times versus something that turns into an on-going substance use and abuse problem.

Treatment for Troubled Teens-Parents must educate themselves about red flags that may indicate substance use, so they can respond quickly when a red flag occurs. The American Council for Drug Education Web site provides the following indicators that have been linked to possible drug use. These indicators should motivate you to explore more and clarify if it is substances causing the symptoms:

-- Sudden decline in school achievement.

-- Cigarette smoking.

-- Marked shift in the child's friends, especially association with known or suspected drug users.

-- Serious erosion of parental trust in the child.

-- Support by the child for the idea of legalizing marijuana.

-- Marked personality changes, such as social withdrawal, a new guardedness in communication with family members, depression, changes in sleep patterns, etc.

-- Withdrawal from extracurricular activities previously important to the child.

-- Cutting classes, tardiness or truancy from school.

-- Deterioration in appearance and personal hygiene, or dramatic image changes.

-- Increased secretiveness, unexplained phone calls, heightened hostility to inquiry, sudden onset of hypersensitivity.

-- Going out every night. (Especially "hanging around" as opposed to scheduled youth activities.)

-- Unexplained disappearance of family funds or family and personal possessions (to buy drugs) and/or appearance of unexplained money or items such as new clothes and CDs (from selling drugs).

-- Aggressive behavior such as recurrent fighting, violent hostility or other evidence of social alienation from the mainstream.

-- Heavy use of over-the-counter preparations to reduce eye reddening, nasal irritation or bad breath.

Treatment for Troubled Teens-While a red flag does not provide enough indication on its own that your teen is using, each of these indicators should result in some action by the parent to explore what has caused it. Substance use can be ruled out or early intervention can occur to help fix the problem, whether it's substance use or something else.

Treatment for Troubled Teens-Parents should keep their eyes and minds open. For example, a teen that keeps Febreze or mouthwash in his or her car or room may very well be using these to mask the odor of cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, etc. Similarly, a new interest in colognes, incense or scented candles can be used to mask odors.

Treatment for Troubled Teens-The following practical pointers are provided by the students of Summit School, a Chapel Hill high school for students dealing with maintaining sobriety:

1. If you think your child is using drugs, they are.

2. No one "holds onto" drugs for anyone else. If you find drugs among your child's possessions it is because they belong to your child.

3. If your child's friends are using drugs it is likely your child is as well.

4. Cough and cold products are highly addictive and commonly abused. If you find them in your child's room and you have not purchased them (or if more has been taken than you know to be reasonable) you have very good reason to suspect that your child is abusing them.

5. Do not wait to get help. Seek the assistance of a certified drug and alcohol specialist as soon as you have suspicion.

Parents often say that after noticing a red flag and confronting their child, they are left feeling totally confused as to what exactly the problem is and how serious it is. The teen denies use, or 'fesses up to using "just this once."

Treatment for Troubled Teens-Or the teen provides reasons for using, such as to lessen academic pressures and anxiety, social pressure to use, depression, frustration with schoolwork, boredom, etc. Very often the teen promises to never use again. The parent is left with little to no clarity on what the scope of the problem entails, and uncertain about whether or not to believe their child's assertions that they have used only this once (or a few times), and will never use again.

Treatment for Troubled Teens-Linda Hammock, a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Addictions Counselor who specializes in teens and families, notes, "In my 20 years of substance abuse counseling, I have found most parents believe that they have a good idea of what their teen does. When I work with the teens who abuse substances, it becomes crystal clear that their highly functioning and loving parents have been frighteningly in the dark."

Treatment for Troubled Teens-Studies have shown early intervention is key in preventing a deepening of the problem, yet often parents are not yet concerned enough at that early stage to utilize the two main tools for early intervention: seeking professional help and support, and strong consequences for substance use.

These organizations and Web sites offer more information on Treatment for Troubled Teens :