How to Treat Teenage Drug Use

Whether it is occasional use or a full-blown addiction, substance abuse by teens is not to be ignored. Take steps to treat teenage drug use. There are many variables, but perhaps the most important is finding out as quickly as possible if there is an immediate threat to the teen's well-being.

Instructions

1. Find out what drugs your teen is using and how often. This can be tricky, especially if your teen is secretive or avoids communication. If a frank discussion is not possible, then go underground. Talk to your teen's friends or acquaintances.

2. Use assessment tools on websites or talk to the family doctor. Sometimes, even without hard evidence, there are signs of drug use in a teen's personality. Put together a plan for approaching the issue.

3. Reach out to your teen. Be prepared for this conversation to last a nanosecond, though it may not. The message to deliver, if only in that nanosecond, is the following: "I know. I am concerned. We need to deal with this."

4. Understand the difference between occasional use and addiction, and even more importantly, the differences among drugs. Many websites and community resources have this type of information.

5. Talk to your teen about occasional use, if there are no signs of addiction. Point out drug use is often illegal and trouble with the law can follow them along in life. Be persistent, even if your teen gets up and walks out.

6. Deal with an addiction situation, and do not give up. One conversation probably will not do it, nor even two or three. Ask other people your teen respects and wants to please to help you deliver a message of concern, love, support and the need to act.

7. Seek professional advice on how best to treat the addiction, using as much information as you have. Not every treatment works for every person, and each addiction is as different as the teen it affects.

8. Take the steps designed for your teen's situation. This starts with getting the teen to agree to treatment, and it may take a long time to get past that step. Remember a treatment step may fail, but that does not mean giving up.

Tips & Warnings

• Never talk to your teen about drug use when you suspect he or she is high. Choose a moment, even if it means waiting a while, that is calm, quiet and above all, when you two are alone.

• This is the technology generation. Often teens communicate better by email or instant messenger. It may be the only way to get those first messages across. Worry about improving personal communication skills later.

• Do not lose your cool. Take deep breaths if you feel the anger rising, get up and walk to the window to hide an emotion or pinch the inside of your arm. A temper tirade will only make things worse.

• Do not do this alone. You need help, resources and information. Friends, a family doctor, a community outreach center-these are all places to get advice and a person to lean on.

• Teachers, coaches and other adults who interact with your teen may have insights into behavior or even information they have picked up on the teen grapevine. Talk to anyone and everyone with whom your teen comes into contact.

• Always try for an expression of love and support, no matter how hard it might be.

• Interventions may make for interesting reality television, but they require careful planning and professional advice. This is a major step. Try smaller ones first.

• Never ignore a crisis. If you suspect suicidal behavior or an overdose, get your teen to the nearest emergency room immediately.