It may be very painful to
find out that your child is addicted to alcohol/drugs. Here are some
common questions and answers when it comes to teenagers with substance use
disorder. The information has been taken from The National Institute of Drug
Abuse (NIDA). Read more at: www.drugabuse.gov.
How do I know?
Maybe
he/she starts to act different without any reason, for example:
- Often
feels tired/down
- Acts
different towards family members (irritated/angry etc.)
- Changes
circle of friends
- Doesn’t
take care of personal health (hygiene/food intake/physical activities etc.)
- Misses/fails/skips
classes
- Loose
interest in things that used to be important
If you
recognize some of these signs - it might be a good start to find out the reason for
the changes as soon as possible. Don’t wait for your child to become addicted!
What can I do to help?
To ask for
professional help at a medical center is a good start. It takes a lot of
hard work and courage to seek help and recover from an addiction, and it might
result in big changes in your child’s academic and personal life. Remember that
it takes time and require patience.
What to do if my child refuses treatment?
Don’t use nagging or yelling! Many people suffering from addiction
find it frightful to lose their drugs. Explain to your child that the treatment
is not dangerous and that the treatment centers will provide all the help
she/he needs. Tell your child that you/your family will be at her/his side all
the way, whatever happens. Most teenagers only enter treatment if there’s a
pressure from their family. To meet
a professional may be a big step on the way for your child, since talking to him/her alone may stir up a lot of emotions
(accusations, yelling, threats or fear may be some emotions that will only
worsen the situation).
What to do if my child has already been in
treatment but has suffered from a relapse?
This means
that your child has already been provided with many tools that may help.
Instead you should view a new treatment as a supplement for the earlier
treatment. Your child is now acquainted with the ways in which he/she may
recover from addiction; a relapse doesn’t mean a failure! Try and explain this
to your child.
How to face my child before he/she enters
treatment?
Talk! There
are many tools that you can use to avoid destructive conversations, many of which you can read about in this blog. Let your
child express her/his emotions, but keep in mind that people suffering from
addiction may find it hard to tell the truth (mostly because of shame), and
that’s why it’s a good idea for your child to speak to someone unknown
(professional).
I’ve heard that teenagers often use drugs to
self-medicate in order to treat depression. How do I face this problem?
There might
be a possibility that your child is suffering from both addiction and depression,
which is very common when it comes to addiction in general. Encourage your
child to tell his/her health care provider about all his/her problems/feelings.
Don’t try and force your child to speak to you if he/she is not willing to do
so. There are many effective non-addictive drugs that can help a person with
health mental health issues. Talk to your child’s health care provider! Ask how
they deal with depression and tell them about what you know when it comes to
your child’s psychological health.
Source: http://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/treatment-research/if-teen-or-young-adult-has-drug-abuse-problem
