Teenage Drug Abuse: Why It Happens and How To Help
Your teenager is starting to worry you. The locked doors, skipped school days, and broken curfews are not like them. It’s been happening for a while. You’re not sure what changed, but it’s becoming obvious that something did.
Should you approach them about it? Is this just a normal part of adolescence? Is there anything else you should look out for? When should you ask for help?
Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions, plus six things that might be contributing to your teen's drug abuse, why the numbers are on the rise, the potential effects on teenagers, and how to help when they’re struggling.
Table of Contents
- Why Is Teenage Drug Abuse on the Rise?
- 6 Influences Contributing to Teenage Drug Abuse
- What Are the Effects of Drug Abuse on Teens?
- Teenage Drug Abuse Treatment: How To Help Your Struggling Teen
- Robin Recovery: Equipping Teens To Avoid and Overcome Drug Abuse
Why Is Teenage Drug Abuse on the Rise?
Teenagers have always pushed the limits. But while their brains are still developing, sometimes pushing limits can cause consequences they don’t expect, such as substance use disorder. In fact, the total number of teenagers reported to have misused drugs in 2023 is up to 3.8 million, up about 100,000 users more than in 2022.
A 2023 national substance use survey reported that:
- 2.9 million U.S. teens used marijuana
- 574,000 misused opioids
- 50,000 used fentanyl
It’s essential to know how teens think, understand where they’re coming from, and see what their life situation is like to know how and when to get them help. Adults and teens typically use drugs for the same reasons; however, the types of drugs used typically vary depending on age range.
A younger teen may be more likely to use an inhalant, like gasoline or spray paint. An older teen might typically use marijuana, opioids, or stimulants.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that 86% of teenagers know someone who smokes, drinks, or does drugs during the school day. Teens commonly experiment with drugs and alcohol for these top five reasons:
- To fit in and be socially accepted by their peers
- To feel good by activating the pleasure pathways in their brain
- To feel better when managing stress, mental illnesses, and physical pain
- To improve their academic or athletic performance
- To seek out thrills and new experiences
If your teen is struggling with drug abuse, Robin Recovery can help. Our team of caring professionals offers tailored, comprehensive help through substance abuse treatment programs. Contact us to learn more about how we can help.
6 Influences Contributing to Teenage Drug Abuse
#1: Domestic Conflicts
If a teen lives in a household with violent conflicts, they may use drugs to escape their pain or life situation.
Studies show that exposure to interpersonal violence is strongly linked to teen use of:
- Marijuana – 1.78 times higher risk
- Cocaine – 2.64 times higher risk
- Nonmedical prescription drugs – 2.20 times higher risk
Research also suggests that for every one standard deviation increase in familial conflict, there is a 24% higher likelihood of a teenager developing a substance use disorder.
#2: Trauma
Trauma is a common cause for drug use among young people. They are often trying to numb physical or emotional pain caused by a significant negative event.
#3: Poor Self-Image
Teens often turn to drugs to help dull the pain of loneliness or low self-worth.
One study examined whether self-esteem is related to teens’ tendency toward risky or deviant behaviors, specifically drug addiction. Researchers found that people with drug addiction had lower self-esteem than the control group, indicating that low self-esteem might be a psychological factor that contributes to engaging in harmful or illegal behaviors.
#4: Genetics and Family Environment
If a family member, like a parent or grandparent, had a drug abuse or addiction problem, it is more likely that their teenager might also become addicted to a substance. When drug use is common in a teen’s home or social circle, it might seem normal or acceptable.
Not only do teens learn what is “typical” behavior by watching what they see at home, but these behaviors also become less risky or unusual when they’re present in everyday life.
#5: Peer Pressure
Seeking thrills, exciting experiences, and the need for social acceptance are all part of adolescence. If a teen is part of a social circle that accepts and encourages drug use, they are usually more likely to try it themselves.
#6: Mental Health Struggles
Teens struggling with mental health issues, like depression and anxiety, may use illicit substances in an attempt to self-medicate and alleviate their symptoms. Unfortunately, this is a well-documented pattern in adolescent society. For example, teens might turn to drugs to:
- Escape or numb intrusive thoughts.
- Find short-term relief from emotional pain like depression, anxiety, or PTSD.
- Look for quick relief.
- Create a self-reinforcing cycle.
Consider these mental health statistics in teens:
- In 2023, approximately 40% of high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or helplessness.
- Roughly 4.5 million adolescents aged 12–17 had a major depressive episode.
- 20% of adolescents reported seriously considering suicide, 16% made a plan, and 9% attempted.
What Are the Effects of Drug Abuse on Teens?
Teenagers’ bodies and brains are still developing, meaning the impact of drug abuse on physical, mental, emotional, and social health can be serious. Because the brain continues maturing until about age 25, drug use in teenagers can greatly interfere with the process.
Mental effects might include:
- Memory problems
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased risk of anxiety or depression
- Higher risk of psychosis
- Poor decision-making
- Greater risk of addiction later in life
Physical health effects could include:
- Damage to the heart, lungs, and liver
- Weakened immune system
- Hormonal imbalances
- Sleep problems
- Risk of overdose
Academic and cognitive impacts might include:
- Failing grades
- Skipping school
- Lower motivation
- Dropping out
Social and emotional effects could include:
- Conflicts with family and friends
- Risky behaviors
- Aggression or mood swings
- Low self-esteem
- Dependence on substances
Possible Signs of Drug Abuse in Teenagers
It’s important for parents not to mistake potential signs of drug abuse for normal teenage behavior. Maintaining an open and honest conversation is crucial for the health of any child, but particularly during adolescence.
Some behavioral signs of teenage drug use might include:
- Poor work or school attendance
- Changed relationships with family and friends
- Loss of interest in hobbies
- Periods of high energy followed by extended periods of sleep
- Secretive behavior
- Locked doors
Physical signs could include:
- Unexpected weight loss
- Vomiting
- Slurred or rapid speech
- Exhaustion
- Frequent illnesses
- Skin bruising
- Runny nose or nosebleeds
If your teen is experiencing any of the above, it’s important to seek help right away. Robin Recovery offers treatment programs for teenage drug abuse so you can get your loved one the help they need for lifelong recovery.
Teenage Drug Abuse Treatment: How To Help Your Struggling Teen
To help a teen struggling with drug abuse, parents need to take an active role. They can do this by:
- Preventing access to the substances
- Helping them quit
- Getting them the necessary treatment
- Helping them through recovery
The bottom line:
Seriously consider what might be causing your teen to use drugs. Do you have a family history of drug abuse? Are there traumatic events in their childhood or extreme stressors in your home? What’s happening in their school or friend group? Are they being bullied or picked on? Did anything seem out of the ordinary before you suspected drug abuse?
Be honest. No matter what your drug abuse history is, you must be open and honest about it with your teen. They may take your hidden drug use as permission to continue there.
Be alert to changes in behavior. These are generally the first signs of drug abuse in teens. Have direct, frank conversations with a mental health professional. Look for one who works with adolescent drug concerns.
Stay consistent in your disapproval of drugs. Set boundaries around drug use with your teen. Provide clear consequences for them if they are caught abusing them. Be clear and open about your disapproval and point them to other activities they’ll enjoy.
Listen closely to your teen. They will often tell you more than you think. Listen closely and ask questions. Don’t negate any feelings or frustrations they express.
Consider intervention for mental health issues. Try to discover if your teen is struggling in other mental health areas. If they’re anxious or depressed, the cause could have happened several years before.
Effective treatment is a combination of intervention and prevention. If you think your child is struggling with substance use or abuse, it’s critical to call in professional medical help soon.
Robin Recovery: Equipping Teenagers To Avoid and Overcome Drug Abuse
At Robin Recovery, we believe in a holistic approach to recovery, treating the whole person, not just the addiction. We take pride in helping our clients start the next, sober chapter of their lives.
Our services include evidence-based therapies, holistic modalities, and help for co-occurring or dual diagnosis conditions.
We understand the importance of affordable and accessible recovery services, and we provide insurance verification for potential patients.
If you or someone you know has a teenager struggling with substance abuse, reach out to us today. We’ll explain our holistic approach and how our different programs can help your teenager live a life in recovery.
https://www.robinrecovery.com/contact-us