Minneapolis MN Drug Addiction; Concerns That Increase The Risk Of Teens Getting Addicted

By Nancy Patterson


Research shows that about 50% of new drug users are teenagers. While not all of them become addicted and end up in treatment programs, it is crucial for parents to understand the risk factors that can chain their loved ones to drug dependency. A reliable Minneapolis MN drug addiction therapist can provide invaluable assistance if your child is already hooked on substance abuse.

For most kids, they will try drugs with the hopes of fitting in. They may be curious to find out what would happen if they acted with some drugs in their system. Here are other circumstances that may increase the odds of your child trying drugs and possibly getting addicted in the course of it.

Another common reason why teenagers turn to drugs is because of community poverty. Research shows that kids from poor neighborhoods are three times more likely to use drugs than those from wealthier backgrounds. Inadequate resources cause family strains, missed educational opportunities, lack of employment, mental and physical health problems and the list is endless.

The lack of adult supervision can also increase the likelihood of a teen ending up in a drug treatment program. Teenagers love to experiment and when they do not have to worry about an adult bumping into them, they could begin taking prescription pills and alcohol that is available at home. Once they feel comfortable enough, they will even try out whatever drugs they can get from their friends. If you cannot personally supervise your kids, it is better for you to hire a responsible adult who can provide the much needed help.

The risk of using controlled substances overlaps with mental health issues. This is according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. What happens is that teens battling with depression or even anxiety may depend on marijuana, opiates or alcohol to cope with their feelings. The unfortunate truth is that drugs only make their disorders worse and getting into psychiatric hospitals or drug addiction treatment programs may be inevitable.

With teenage hood comes a myriad of both emotional and physical changes. The majorities of kids will also experience peer pressure and while not all of them will be attracted to trying drugs, some of them will not resist the urge. The most vulnerable to using drugs because of peer pressure are those that come from dysfunctional families or have mental problems.

To reduce the odds of your kid taking drugs because of peer pressure, you should depend on platforms that teach the youth about the dangers of drugs. During substance abuse education, the self-image of the teens is enhanced. This makes them less vulnerable to doing unwise things simply because other people are doing them.

Having strict rules, constantly supervising your teens and even ensuring their good mental health may not mean much if you live within an area where drug availability is not a problem. Unfortunately, research shows that drugs are easy to find within school settings. It remains imperative for you to therefore choose private or public institutions that uphold strong anti-drug policies. Such institutions may even provide mandatory drug abuse education courses to further set their students on the right path.




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