Teen Risky Behaviors
Research shows that by parents having a close and loving relationship with teen can help prevent them from engaging in risky behaviors. Consistently enforcing a clear set of rules and consequences; monitoring what teens are doing and with whom they are spending time with; respecting your teen; and by setting a good example and communicate with them about key life transitions can also be key factors in preventing teens from engaging in risky behaviors. Studies show that parents who are overly permissive, unwilling to set limits, inconsistent or use excessively harsh discipline and unrealistic demands have also put teens at risk of all kinds of risky behavior such as:
Illegal Drugs:
More than four in 10 adolescents have been offered drugs and about one in four have been offered drugs at school. 23.1% of 12th-graders and 17.3% of 10th-graders are drug users.
Prescription & Over-the-Counter Drugs (OTC):
Teens are abusing Prescription and Over the counter (OTC) drugs primarily due to the myth that they are a “safe” high and are easy to get freely from friends and relatives. Most commonly abused are painkillers such as powerful narcotics, sleeping pills or anti-anxiety drugs, and stimulants for ADHD treatment. 60% of teens who have abused prescriptions first tried them before the age of 15. 4% of 8th graders, 5% of 10th graders, and 6% of 12th graders abuse OTC cough and cold remedies that contain DXM found in NyQuil, Coricidin, and Robitussin to name a few.
Alcohol
Nearly one in three (27.8%) high school students reported drinking alcohol for the first time before age 13; nearly half (44.9%) of high school students nationwide reported current alcohol use. About 60% engage in binge drinking.
Tobacco
About one in five (22.3%) high school students are cigarette smokers. On average, before age 13, 18.3% of high school students nationwide have smoked a whole cigarette for the first time.
Sexual Activity
One in five teenage girls has at least one child birth by the age of 20. Adolescents are less likely to be sexually active who have high-quality relationships with their parents. Approximately one third (34.3%) of all high school students nationwide are sexually active; 25.4% drunk alcohol or used drugs just before sexual intercourse.
Preventative tips:
• Take note of how many pills are in a bottle or pill packet, and keep track of refills.
• Set clear rules for teens about all drug use, including not sharing medicine and always following the Doctor's advice of dosages.
• Parents can set a good example; don’t misuse your own prescription drugs, such as share them with your kids, or abuse them.
• Talk to your teen about the dangers of abusing prescription and over-the-counter drugs as they can be just as dangerous as street drugs.
• Tell your teen how the risks far outweigh any "benefits."
• Let your teen know you LOVE him/her, and you are worried that he/she might be using drugs or alcohol.
For treatment programs nearest you, call:
Toll Free: 1-800-662-HELP
Español: 1-800-662-9832
TDD: 1-800-228-0427
The influence of a positive parent-teen relationship continues into adulthood. This includes lowering psychological distress, self-esteem, happiness and satisfaction life. Using drugs early means teens are more likely to engage in risky behaviors that may put their futures in jeopardy, such as delinquency; having multiple sexual partners; perceiving drugs as not harmful; and having friends who also exhibit deviant behavior.
Tips When Getting Help for Your Teen:
• Get the whole family involved. Family disorder and stress contribute to the problems of teenagers.
• Be patient. Experienced counselors take their time with young people who enter counseling against their will. It may take a while to develop a rapport and a bit longer for teens to be ready to make changes.
• Monitor progress. Talk with the counselor when you are unhappy with the progress.
• Be your child’s advocate. Find out what treatment services are covered and for how long whether you have private health coverage or public programs for health care.
• Evaluate your counselor. You should feel good about the person, and you should also get results.
Why are some teens doing this?
There are a variety of reason teens abuse prescription and over the counter drugs:
1. To get high and party
2. Feel like they can manage their lives
3. Get additional energy or focus for exams
4. Cope with academic, social and emotional stress
5. To either lose weight or bulk up
Web Sites Especially for Teens
Freevibe.com is an online service of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign that offers information, fact sheets, games, and posters for teens with a special section on Early Intervention or call 1-800-788-2800; Spanish: 1-877-746-3764.(24 hours, 7 days a week). http://www.freevibe.com/
Checkyourself.org offers resources, information, quizzes, and videos for teens to question themselves about their drug use and lifestyle, communicate with other teens, get factual answers and learn how to talk with people who can help them get treatment or counseling.
http://www.checkyourself.org/
Partnership for a Drug Free America The Partnership for a Drug-Free America is a nonprofit organization that unites parents, renowned scientists and communications professionals to help families raise healthy children. The centerpiece of this effort is an online resource center at drugfree.org, featuring interactive tools that translate the latest science and research on teen behavior, addiction and treatment into easy to understand tips and tools.
http://www.drugfree.org/
SADD.org is the nation’s leading youth empowerment and prevention organization, with 10,000 chapters in middle schools, high schools and colleges across the country. They are dedicated to preventing destructive decisions, particularly underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving, and teen violence.
http://www.sadd.org/
Continued
on right column »
|
