THE FOUR STAGES OF DRUG USE
As our children transform into
teenagers, their social atmosphere changes, and our teens may begin to feel the
pressure to use drugs and alcohol. Communication is the key to prevention.
Keeping yourself educated and
aware of the current drug and alcohol trends can help you protect your teen
from going down the wrong path. Below are four stages of substance abuse that
parents need to be aware of when raising teens.
Stage
One: Experimentation
You may find your teen
participating in underage drinking, smoking cigarettes, marijuana, or even
abusing prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Some teens experiment, and
their use stops there. For others, this can be the first step in a lifelong
struggle with substance abuse. Many who have become addicted have started
drinking and using drugs as early as 12 years old. Early use is one of the risk
factors for addiction.
Stage
Two: Regular Use
You may begin to notice your
child has a regular pattern of underage drinking or drug abuse. At this stage,
they are still able to stop this pattern. Some risky behavior may begin to
occur in this stage such as binge drinking, driving under the influence, or
becoming preoccupied with drugs. Your teen can also begin to show defiance,
depression, or anxiety.
Stage
Three: Substance Abuse/Risky Behavior
You continue to find evidence
of your teen’s persistent substance abuse. Relationships with family and
friends are impacted. Negative consequences at school and work and possible
legal problems may emerge. Despite the consequences of your teen’s risky
behavior, the substance abuse continues.
Stage
Four: Addiction or Chemical Dependency
Your teen’s drug or alcohol
abuse may have progressed to addiction, which is a chronic, often relapsing,
but treatable brain disease. A characteristic of addiction is cravings that
tell a person’s brain that continued use is critical for their survival.
Cravings are what drive the dependent person to continue to use, despite the
damage that it creates in their life and to the lives of those around them.
The stages described above can
be different for everyone. A person can move through the stages quickly or it
can take several years. It is important, especially when teens are involved, to
address the issue of substance abuse early before it grows into a much more
significant problem.
Cathy Taughinbaugh is a
Parent Recovery and Life Coach. She writes about addiction, treatment and
recovery at Cathy Taughinbaugh.com. Cathy is committed to
spreading awareness about the dangers of substance abuse. You can also
follow her on Facebook at Treatment
Talk and Twitter @treatmenttalk.
Read more here: stopmedicineabuse.org/blog/details/the-four-stages-of-drug-use
(Cathy Taughinbaugh - guest author | July 30,
2013)
Visit us here: http://www.integrativeaddiction2015.com
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