Myths of Drug Abuse in Juveniles
Juveniles --- young adults or teens and pre-teens --- are adolescent boys and girls. When it comes to drug abuse in juveniles, there are rumors, myths and facts floating around that make it hard to decipher exactly which supposed facts are true and which are false. Parents need to know the facts to help prevent their children from starting drugs.
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Parents Cannot Prevent Children from Taking Drugs
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The myth that parents are unable to prevent children from taking and experimenting with drugs is false. According to The Anti-Drug, parents are the most influential person as far as adolescents and drug abuse are concerned. Parents who talk to their children about drugs, drug abuse and the consequences of drugs from the time children are young will get the message across. Parents influence their children's decisions on a daily basis.
Young Children Aren't Exposed to Drugs
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Although younger children are less likely to have drug exposure, it is a possibility. Some drugs, like marijuana, are more likely than others such as club drugs, but drug use can start in younger children. The Anti-Drug points out that marijuana is used by approximately one in 10 eighth-grade students.
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You Can't Force Someone Into Treatment
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The myth that someone addicted to drugs cannot be forced into treatment or benefit from treatment when forced is false. Parents can force their children into treatment, and the children can benefit from the treatment. Even juveniles who protest or fight going to treatment can end up drug-free.
It is Possible to Overcome Addiction With Willpower
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Parents might think their children they can get over the addiction with willpower alone, and thus avoid treatment options. This is a myth. Although it is possible for some individuals to overcome addiction to drugs on their own, most addicts need help. Even those who are using a 12-step program are not working on the addiction alone; they are getting support through the program.
Parents Who Experimented With Drugs are Hypocrites
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Although parents might believe it is hypocritical to tell their children not to use drugs when they have experimented in their youth, it is not true. There is more information available to parents than there was in their youth, and parents can point out to children that their generation did not know all of the dangers associated with the drugs they used. Parents are still the best prevention of drug use, no matter whether they experimented as juveniles.
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References
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