Teenagers can be naïve about many things, and one area that this is most obvious is in their belief that they are indestructible. They don’t recognize that their behavior has consequences, and that some of those consequences can be to their health, or even their very life.

Using drugs and alcohol tends to be one of the areas where they just don’t see the connection between their behavior and what it could mean to their health. In the early stages of substance use, they just see and feel the enjoyment that they might be experiencing. By the time they get to the stage of being addicted, they are unable to comprehend the magnitude of the problem. As a parent you will have to step in and get your child medical treatment. Oftentimes this means that a teen intervention might be necessary.

Addiction as a Disease

If you have a teenager who is addicted to drugs, but does not recognize their need for help, you will need to take control of the situation as if it were any other disease that might affect his or her wellbeing. In reality, addiction is a disease and should be treated as such.

Unfortunately, addiction can progress significantly if left untreated. This can lead to deterioration of the body, cause changes to a teen’s still developing brain (which can become permanent), and even damage their internal organs. If left untreated, teen addiction can lead to death.

Teenagers typically do not fully understand these risks to their health and welfare. Part of that comes from their lack of experience, and part of it can come from denial. Another aspect of their lack of acceptance of the risks is that teens tend to think about right here and right now, with no regard for the future. This factor often prevents them from recognizing the danger of their situation as a drug abuser.

Reasons for Medical Treatment of Addiction

Because addiction is a disease that affects the body and mind, professionals should medically treat it. There are many reasons to get your teenager medical treatment as quickly as possible, including but not limited to the following:

• Abuse of drugs or alcohol can delay the onset of puberty in your child, and can inhibit their reproductive system from developing normally. The effects could be permanent.
• It is known that the brain does not fully develop until about age 20. Teenage alcohol or drug abuse could delay this development or permanently alter it, leaving lasting damage. It is known that alcohol abuse can leave your teen with memory loss and permanent brain damage.
• Alcohol and drugs can damage the lining of the stomach, leading to ulcers, which will need to be treated. This could leave your teenager with lasting, lifelong stomach problems.
• It is known that alcohol affects the liver, causing damage to this vital organ. Enough liver damage can be fatal.
• Alcohol has been linked to cancer of the mouth and esophagus. Cancer of the esophagus can be very painful and difficult to treat. It can also spread quickly to other parts of the body.
• Some drugs, like cocaine, can cause seizures, panic attacks or even psychotic breakdowns.
• Ecstasy, which many teens think of as a safe and simple “club drug” that gives them a temporary high, has been shown to cause heart failure in some users.
• Illegal street drugs come from unknown sources and contain unknown substances that can be poisonous to the body. These drugs also have varying levels of strength from one batch to the next, so it is hard to know what the impact will be on a person’s body and mind.

Addiction creates changes to the drug user’s body, causing him or her to crave the drug. It takes medical treatment to detoxify the system of the drug and reduce the cravings. Often this means that you will need to stage a teen intervention to get your child in for necessary detox and treatment. This withdrawal process can be difficult, and despite what many drug users claim, they can rarely quit on their own. It is important to keep this in mind if you have a teenager who is abusing alcohol or drugs.

If you are the parent of a teenager who you suspect may be using drugs or alcohol, is it okay for you to snoop into your child’s bedroom and personal belongings? Just asking the question can be controversial, and the answer will vary depending on the respondent.

It is only natural that the parent might be conflicted over this question. Parents recognize that their teen deserves some privacy, while on the other hand they have a recognized responsibility as a parent to protect their child.

If you were to ask the teenagers, most would say an emphatic NO to having their room searched by anyone. On the other hand, drug prevention or teen intervention specialists insist that the parent has a responsibility to keep their child safe. Therefore, if they suspect alcohol or drug use, they have no choice but to investigate.

Snooping by Any Other Name is Still Snooping

Part of the controversy over snooping is in the name itself. People generally have a negative connotation associated with the word, so it can make a parent feel like they are doing something wrong. For this reason some parents prefer to say they are searching or investigating, rather than snooping.

The key point to keep in mind is that as a parent you are only trying to help your teenager. If it makes it easier to call it by some other name in your head go ahead and do that, just as long as you do what is best to help your suspected substance abuser overcome teen addiction.

Reasons for Snooping

The only truly justifiable reason for snooping through your teenager’s bedroom and belongings is if you have a solid suspicion that he or she is using drugs or alcohol or doing something else that could endanger his or her wellbeing. This means that you have seen evidence of use, or there have been significant enough behavioral changes in your teen that indicate they are abusing some substance.

For example, if unexplained odd odors - like pot or burning chemicals - are coming out of your teen’s bedroom, that is evidence of use of something out of the norm, and grounds for snooping to investigate potential teen addiction.

Where to Snoop

If you have sufficient reason to proceed with your snooping, then you need to know what to look for and where to look. The “what” is pretty easy; you are looking for any evidence of drug or alcohol use. This could include actual products, empty liquor bottles, pipes that might be used for smoking drugs, and other drug paraphernalia. As to where to look, that can be challenging. Teens who are trying to hide substance abuse can become pretty secretive, and pretty good at hiding things within their bedrooms. Some possible hiding places for drugs or alcohol could include:

• The bottom of the laundry hamper in the closet.
• Under a stack of clothing in a dresser drawer.
• Inside pockets of jeans hanging in the closet.
• In some sort of box or container that has been placed under the bed.
• Inside a DVD or CD case.
• In a backpack or computer bag that is normally carried to school with your teen.
• Inside a container that was originally for some other product. For example, drugs might be hidden in an old Tylenol bottle or alcohol might be poured into a container that used to hold an energy drink.

The Bottom Line

If you choose to snoop and do find evidence of drug or alcohol use, then your snooping is justified and you can explain yourself to your teenager. If you snoop and don’t find anything, you then have to reevaluate your suspicions of substance abuse. You will also have to decide if you are going to admit your snooping to your teenager. As a parent, always remember that your chief objective is to keep your children safe. Whether that involves snooping or not will be a decision you have to make.

On the surface you might think that it is easy to recognize a teenager who abuses drugs. If you believe only in the stereotype of the drug addict as portrayed on television, you would likely miss many of the symptoms that are common in teenagers.

However, as any adult can tell you, the teenage years can be a challenging time. Many of the behaviors of drug addiction are also normal adolescent behavior, or could be symptoms of common teenage depression or anxiety. That is why it is so important to watch your teen for unusual behavior, or sudden changes in behavior. While many teenagers will not admit to an addiction, if you pay attention, understand what to watch for, and keep the lines of communication open with your teenager, you have a much better change of recognizing the signs of addiction early enough to get effective treatment.

If your teen begins to exhibit some of the symptoms discussed below, it is important to talk directly about it. The last thing you should do is just assume that it is “normal teenage behavior” and ignore what it going on with your teen.

Common Physical Changes

Teenagers who are addicted to drugs will most likely exhibit some physical changes over a period of time. These could include:

• Weight loss due to loss of appetite from drug abuse.
• Red or glassy appearance to their eyes.
• Excessive exhaustion or complaints of fatigue.
• Health complaints that are non-specific, but unusual for their normal condition.
• Marks on the arms from needles.
• A change in appearance because they are no longer practicing good hygiene habits.

Behavioral Changes to Watch For

The behavioral changes may be noticed even before any of the physical changes have a chance to establish themselves. It is not unusual for teens to start acting differently once they start using drugs, and these changes can increase as the drug use intensifies. Changes to make note of include:

• A change in the friends that your teen spends time with.
• Mood swings or emotional instability, including aggressive or abusive behavior.
• Coming home late, ignoring curfew, or not coming home at all.
• Distancing themselves from the rest of the family physically and emotionally.
• Hyperactivity or inability to concentrate or focus for any length of time.
• Lying or stealing.

While all of the signs listed can be symptoms of something other than teen addiction, it should not be assumed that this is the case. It is very important to trust your gut instincts as a parent, and if something does not seem right with your teenager’s behavior or appearance, you should explore what might be causing the change. It is better to be overly cautious than to ignore signs, only to discover too late that your teen is addicted.

Not only is marijuana addictive, but it also can cause many problems for its users. It is estimated that at least 1 in 10 marijuana users are, in fact, addicted to the drug. However, the question is if you want to stop marijuana, how should you proceed?

Breaking any addiction can be difficult, but it is indeed possible. The first step is to realize that your marijuana use is a problem. Once you have decided that you want to change, you have improved your chances of success. It is often a good idea to make a note of your desire to stop using marijuana. Write the goal down on a piece of paper. This way, when things are difficult, you will be able to refer back to this simple goal. It is also helpful to talk to others who will support you and ask for help.

There are a wide variety of reasons that strongly support giving up marijuana. For example, research indicates that unemployment is much higher for those that use marijuana. Marijuana also can temporarily lower your intelligence. Quitting will allow you to work harder, be smarter and may even increase your relationships with friends and family. Marijuana addiction tends to cause people to isolate themselves. Needless to mention, your marijuana addiction is also causing you to break the law.

When you stop using marijuana, you will also have more money. Obviously, marijuana can be so expensive. One you have quit, imagine all the money that will be freed up. This is just one of the many advantages that you can focus on while you are going through the marijuana recovery process. It is a good idea to get rid of your marijuana and accessories. It will be harder to use marijuana in a moment of weakness if you don’t have any around. Many people also find that staying away from friends and places where marijuana will be used can help break a marijuana addiction.

Withdrawal is common for those that decide to stop using marijuana. You may feel cranky and anxious as you start to quit. Other reported symptoms of withdrawal include an inability to sleep, no appetite and intense cravings for marijuana. You will start to notice withdrawal symptoms after about a day without marijuana. They will reach their peak after a couple of days. The good news is that these symptoms will generally be gone after a couple of weeks. During this time, hold strong to your commitment to quit.

If you want to stop using marijuana, now is the time to get started. Don’t keep thinking about it or saying that you will quit later. Recovering from marijuana addiction is possible, but it will require dedication. Don’t forget that if you have trouble quitting on your own, there are always marijuana treatment centers and programs that can assist you.

There is a lot of debate out there about whether or not marijuana is a stepping stone drug. If you haven’t heard of this term before, a “stepping stone drug” leads to the use or abuse of other harder drugs. This is also often referred to as a “gateway drug.” The truth is that often those that use marijuana do develop addictive behaviors that lead to the usage of other drugs. Marijuana is indeed a stepping stone drug.

One reason that marijuana users tend to turn to other drugs is that long-term marijuana use can cause addictive tendencies to develop. In fact, studies indicate that long-term usage leads to withdrawal symptoms when users stop smoking marijuana. These symptoms include irritability, the inability to sleep, anxiety, stress and cravings for about 2 weeks. Once these behavior patterns have been established from marijuana addiction, they can lead to other additions as well.

Marijuana users often begin experimenting with harder drugs like cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and meth. Oftentimes, addicts seek out other drugs in hopes to heighten the high that they are experiencing with marijuana. The National Institute for Drug Abuse also suggests that marijuana addiction makes the user more susceptible to other drugs through physiological changes in the brain.

Did you know that nearly 2/3 of daily marijuana users have used other drugs in the last year? Obviously, this is a much higher percentage than drug use amongst non-marijuana users. This simple fact alone shows that marijuana use can lead to using other drugs. Daily users of marijuana are at a great risk for using other illegal drugs.

Exposes User to Different Lifestyle

Another reason that marijuana use may lead to the use of other drugs is that users are often exposed to a different lifestyle than non-users. Since recreational marijuana is illegal in many states, users have to turn to drug dealers to buy marijuana. This makes it easier to access other drugs and establishes relationships and associations with those more likely to use or sell other drugs.

Marijuana usage is dangerous on its own. However, when you combine this danger with the fact that marijuana is a stepping stone drug, it becomes much more of a problem. The best way to avoid potential drug problems is to just avoid any illegal drugs in general. The fact of the matter is that once you develop a marijuana addiction, it can cause a wide variety of issues in your life.

If you ask around, you will undoubtedly find people on both side of the fence when it comes to the question of whether or not marijuana is chemically addictive. There are those who are convinced that marijuana does cause a chemical dependency. Others believe that users only become psychologically addicted to marijuana. Yet, current evidence supports the fact that marijuana is not chemically addictive. However, this doesn’t mean that users will not become addicted in other ways and need to seek treatment for their addiction.

The main active chemical in marijuana is THC, which causes cellular reactions in the body that cause the drug high users seek to experience. However, THC also causes negative side effects as well such as increased heart rate and anxiety, and difficulty thinking.

THC changes the way that the brain’s hippocampus can process information. The hippocampus is responsible for learning, memory and emotions. Unfortunately, long term marijuana use can cause damage to the brain. While THC has negative effects on the body, it has not been proven to be chemically addictive.

Further, when marijuana addicts are not able to get the drug, they will experience significant physiological withdrawal symptoms. These symptoms include headaches, depression and irritation. Therefore, in many cases marijuana rehab and treatment is a necessity.

Some people wonder why there are drug rehab centers at all if marijuana isn’t addictive. There are a variety of reasons for this fact. First of all, those who are addicted to marijuana often have a lifestyle that is tied in with the drug. Researchers have speculated that those with a marijuana addiction are actually addicted to the high that the drug produces in their brain.

Due, in part, to the fact that marijuana isn’t chemically addictive, historically, there have been fewer treatment centers. However, marijuana users do indeed need help getting off drugs, just as users of any other drug would. Many people who try to quit marijuana have such a hard time doing so that they do indeed feel as though it must be chemically addictive!

Although the evidence to date supports the idea that marijuana creates a psychological and social dependency rather than one that is chemically based, the court is still out. Researchers continue to conduct studies on the impact of marijuana on the brain and the body. Therefore, it is possible that in the future we will discover more evidence about the addictive nature of marijuana of which we are not currently aware.

Many parents of teenagers worry that their children might be using marijuana. After all, marijuana is by far the most commonly used illicit drug and is widely available. Unfortunately, marijuana addiction is an issue that impacts many teens. It is best to halt drug use at an early age before the habits are deeply ingrained and marijuana intervention and rehab is necessary. Let’s take a quick look at the truth surrounding teen marijuana use.

How Many Teens Use Marijuana?

According to The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, almost 20% of individuals between the ages of 12 and 17 claim they have used marijuana at some point in their lives. While this number may seem high, it is actually about a percent lower than it was in 2002. It is estimated that 4,830 teens start using marijuana each day and that 7.2% of teens have used marijuana in the last month. When it comes to older teens between the ages of 16 and 17, this percentage more than doubles. It has been said that 15.6% of 16 and 17 year olds have used marijuana in the last month. Marijuana use among teens is rampant, although indicators show that teen use is decreasing.

When Does Marijuana Use Begin?

Many teens start using marijuana very young. A recent study reports that nearly 10% of the students studied started using marijuana before they turned 13. This means that marijuana prevention and education efforts need to start before the teenage years. Male students typically start using marijuana at a younger age than female students. Be aware that recent studies also indicate that younger students (9^th and 10^th grade) were more likely to use marijuana before 13 than those in higher grades (11^th and 12^th).

Where Does Marijuana Use Occur?

One fact that surprises many is that marijuana is actually being used in our public schools. While most students use marijuana off school property, a recent study shows that 5.8% of students have used the drug while at school. This means that students are getting high between classes and during lunch. The use of marijuana in school is increasing and is up from 3% in 2001.

Often teens don’t realize just how harmful this drug can be and don’t understand that they are at risk for marijuana addiction. Many incorrectly believe that this drug does not carry any risk. If we want to slow teen marijuana use, education is key. Since many teens start using this drug at a young age, it is important for parents to talk to their children about the dangers of using marijuana.

If you are looking into an alcohol recovery program, it is important to understand the difference between inpatient and outpatient treatment programs.  Typically, heavy drinkers who are extremely addicted to the substance are admitted to inpatient care.  However, outpatient treatment is also a valuable alternative under the right circumstances.

Inpatient substance abuse care is when the patient is admitted to a facility.  This is usually the recommended course of action for those who are heavily addicted to alcohol.  However, the cost for inpatient care is higher.  Therefore, some people find it to be unaffordable.  On the other hand, outpatient care is when a person is not formally admitted to an alcoholism treatment facility.  In this case, the treatment may take place in a doctor’s office, clinic or the outpatient department of a hospital.

The first step that you might want to take if you have health insurance is to see if your plan covers alcoholism treatment.  Find out what providers are covered on your plan.  If your insurance covers treatment, the costs that will be incurred in an inpatient facility will be much more affordable.

For severe alcoholics who have contracted medical problems as a result of their drinking, inpatient care is often recommended.  In this case, a supervised alcohol detox will likely be necessary.  Typically, after the detox, an inpatient care program follows.  The patient usually attends the program for a few hours each day.  Often these programs can take 3-6 weeks.  After the inpatient treatment is completed, a patient is often moved to an outpatient treatment center.

For severe alcoholics, inpatient care is highly recommended, as there will be no access to alcohol.  Patients will also be under 24-7 security.  In addition to the alcohol detox, patients will be given intensive counseling that help them understand their condition and the reasons behind their addiction.

On the other hand, there are definitely benefits to outpatient care.  For example, the patient can be at home in a familiar environment during the alcohol recovery process.  They can continue a normal lifestyle and they won’t have to leave their job or school to get care.  If the patient has a quality support system, this option can also work quite effectively.  However, in general, outpatient treatment is typically more suited to people who are not severely addicted.  Obviously, outpatient care is far less expensive.  There are also other possibilities to explore including residential care and self-help groups like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Many people who are tempted to try an illegal drug go into it thinking that using the drug once or twice won’t hurt anything. This can be especially true with younger people, who still tend to think that they are invincible. They figure that getting high with their friends isn’t that much different from drinking a few beers. However, when the drug of choice is crystal meth, stop and think twice before trying it even one time.

Methamphetamine, and particularly the more potent crystal meth, is highly addictive. It is believed that a user can become addicted to meth within a very short period of time. Attracted by the feelings associated with using meth, like high energy, increased activity levels, and a lack of appetite, some people think they can use it once in awhile as a pick-me-up. In low doses, using the legal form of methamphetamine, this could be true, but most users of illegal meth are not using the medically therapeutic dosage.

Crystal meth works on the central nervous system of the user’s brain. The amount of drug that enters the brain is higher with meth than with other illegal drugs, as is the length of time that it stays in the brain. These factors contribute to the danger of meth use and what it can do to your brain. Methamphetamines cause the release of high levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that affects motivation, motor function, and the pleasurable feelings that can come with drug use. These high levels of dopamine and meth combined can contribute to destructive effects on the nerve terminals in the brain that can have long term negative effects on how your brain functions.

In the short term, use of meth on a regular basis can cause increased blood pressure, weight loss, insomnia, agitation and irritability, confusion, increased or irregular heart rate, as well as increased body temperatures to the point of danger. There are many other possible side effects of meth use that can vary depending on the age and weight of the user, what form of meth they are using, and how it is ingested, meaning whether it is snorted, smoked, injected or swallowed.

With longer term use, it takes an increasingly more frequent and larger amount of crystal meth in order to achieve the same high. The body builds a tolerance to meth in a reasonably short period of time, causing the user to crave the drug. That is another reason why crystal meth is so highly addictive. Where chronic abuse is concerned, users can develop feelings of depression, paranoia, and hallucinations to the point where the user may think and feel as if there are bugs crawling all over his or her body. There is an increased risk of stroke due to the impact on the blood vessels in the brain. And if you have ever seen a photo of a heavy crystal meth user, you have seen that it can destroy the teeth; this is called “meth mouth”.

Clearly, the toll that meth can take on the body is rather alarming. First of all, this drug will prematurely age the body, and make a person look far older in just a short period of time. Further, chronic usage of this drug can cause psychotic behavior and sometimes even death. Over time, meth will change the brain chemistry and make it difficult for a person to experience pleasure. Often these pleasure centers cannot be regrown. The bottom line is that crystal meth is a drug that can destroy the body and the mind as well.

If someone you know or love is using methamphetamine, the way that you react to this person can make a huge difference in whether or not he or she will seek or accept treatment. Because meth is so highly addictive, it can be more challenging to treat a meth user than an abuser of just about any other type of drug. Most experts share this point of view. However, the first step in helping a meth user is recognizing the signs of drug abuse.

If your loved one has changed his or her behavior significantly, appears to always be happy and talkative, is continuously active, has lost his appetite, or exhibits signs of nervousness and rapid eye movement, you might be observing a meth user. While it is generally agreed that early intervention has the best odds of success when treating a crystal meth abuser, you should never attempt to intervene or confront a user while he is high. However, if you can talk to your loved one when he or she is not high, your support can be invaluable in helping this user recognize that he or she has a drug problem. This can be the first step to getting your loved one into a drug treatment program.

When it comes to crystal meth abuse, a person is rarely able to stop using on his or her own. No level of willpower seems to be sufficient to fight the highly addictive nature of methamphetamine. For this reason, it is important that you be persistent in your efforts to get your loved one into a treatment program. Family member support is considered a very important component to successful drug treatment.

You have made a great deal of progress in treating meth addiction if you can get your loved one to not only recognize that he or she has a drug problem but also to accept treatment. The next step is to detoxify the user. This is the process of eliminating the drug from his system. This stage of treatment can take longer with meth than with other drugs because of the staying power of meth. Additionally, more of the drug gets into the user’s brain than with other drugs. The detox process should take place under medical care to ensure safety. This step is critical, because as long as there is meth in the user’s system, he will be craving the drug. This is the primary reason that most users are unable to quit on their own.

Once detoxified, the real drug treatment can begin. For best success, it is recommended that the drug abuser enter a residential rehab facility for several weeks in order to have the structure and support that will be necessary to escape the clutches of meth. Current research indicates that the most effective treatments for addiction to methamphetamine include behavior modification therapy to help the patient modify thinking, expectations, and coping skills for dealing with the stresses of daily life. There is no doubt that recovering from meth addiction is challenging, but it is not impossible.