Drugs, Alcohol and Teens

Why Adolescent Substance Use is So Dangerous

While we may not have realized it 30 years ago, adolescent substance use is associated with serious health consequences. According to recent research, teens who choose to use illegal substances may face:

Brain Damage:

• The brain goes through dynamic change during adolescence, and alcohol can seriously damage long- and short-term growth processes. Frontal lobe development and the refinement of pathways and connections continue through the late teens or early twenties. Damage from alcohol at this time can be long-term and irreversible. In addition, short-term or moderate drinking impairs learning and memory far more in youth than in adults. (American Medical Association website)
• The feelings and impaired behavior that signal intoxication in the adult brain are delayed in the adolescent brain. This can lead to over-consumption and even alcohol poisoning, which is potentially fatal.
• An adolescent brain that is exposed to alcohol and other chemicals is more susceptible to depression and other mental illnesses.

Alcohol/Drug-Related Teen Deaths

• Alcohol/drug use is associated with the leading causes of death among young people, including car crashes, suicide, homicide, alcohol poisoning and drug overdoses.
• A 16-year-old is more likely to die from an alcohol-related incident than from any other cause.

Increased Risk for Sexual Violence, Sexually-Transmitted Diseases and Unintended Pregnancy

• Alcohol/drug use (by perpetrator, victim, or both) is heavily implicated in cases of date rape and sexual assault among teens and college students.
• Adolescents (ages 15 and older) who consume alcohol are seven times more likely to have sexual intercourse and twice as likely to have four or more sexual partners than non-drinking teens. Research shows they are also more likely to have unprotected sex, risking sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.

Increased Risk for Alcoholism and Drug Addiction

• A study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism offers scientific validation that young people who began drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who began drinking at age 21 or later.
• Current research explains that areas of an adolescent's brain that control impulsive behavior are not fully developed, yet circuits that reinforce the effect of chemical use are already operating in high gear. This puts young people who experiment even briefly with alcohol, drugs, and tobacco at greater risk of becoming addicted.
• Every day that teenagers choose to not use illegal substances improves their chances of avoiding alcohol, drug, or tobacco addiction and helps to prevent many irreversible consequences of using chemical substances.

Adapted from www.TonkaCares.org

What Are the Signs of Teen Substance Use?

Physical Signs

• Smell of alcohol, marijuana, or tobacco
• Slurred speech, impaired coordination, disorientation
• Red, glassy eyes or dilated pupils
• Vomiting or shakes
• Extremely difficult to awaken
• Respiratory or digestive problems
• Physical injuries
• Marked change in weight and/or appetite
• Excessive yawning and sleepiness, change in sleep patterns
• Memory lapses and/or concentration difficulties

Behavioral Signs

• Curfew violations and/or constant defiance of rules
• Excessive or last-minute requests to sleep at a friend's house
• Frequent use of eye drops and breath mints
• Withdrawal from family and/or friends
• Pronounced mood swings; increased irritability and/or hostile outbursts
• Changes in friends and/or extracurricular activities
• Tardiness, truancy at school
• Decreased academic performance
• Changes in personal appearance (i.e., dress, hygiene, grooming)
• Overly preoccupied with privacy or secrecy; lying
• Suspected of vandalism and/or stealing
• Talks positively about alcohol or drug use

Other Indicators

• Alcohol, medications, money or valuables missing
• Alcohol or drug paraphernalia stashed in pockets, drawers, etc. (i.e., a medicine bottle prescribed to another person; empty alcohol containers/baggies/light bulbs/aerosol cans; tweezers, matches and lighters)
• Over-the-counter medications in adolescent's possession (i.e., Robitussin, Nyquil, etc.)

Parents, if you have suspicion or evidence that something is wrong, it probably is. You don't need "proof " to take action. Trust your instincts!

Adapted from www.TonkaCares.org

Important Tools To Keep Your Teenagers Safe When They Go Out

• CURFEW. Set and consistently enforce curfew times. Refer to the chart on the facing page for the Hennepin and Carver County curfews. This law applies year 'round.
• Be awake and interact with your children when they come home.
• Clearly tell your children (every time they go out!) your expectations that they not use illegal substances. Statistics tell us that the #1 reason kids choose to refrain from illegal substance use is because they don't want to disappoint their parents.
• Talk to your children in advance about situations that may arise around alcohol, drugs, and tobacco.
• In order to remove themselves from uncomfortable situations, give your children permission to use you as their "scapegoat" to their peers.
• Offer your children a safe ride home if they are ever in a situation that threatens their safety. Assure them that no questions will be asked until you can have a calm and caring discussion regarding that situation.
• Remove or keep alcohol in a locked area of your home to avoid temptation for your children or your children's friends.
• Get to know your children's friends and their parents. Kids have a hotline of communication ... develop a network among the parents, as well. (Use the Safe Homes Directory—see page 18)
• Establish clear "sleepover" rules or ban sleepovers altogether. Teens will often spend the night away from home if they plan to use illegal substances.
• Tell your child you will be checking up on their plans, and then do it ..."Truth through verification."

Adapted from www.TonkaCares.org