Signs of Substance Abuse in Teens

January 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

For parents, it can be tough to know the common indicators of substance abuse and addiction in their teenagers.  Teens can be secretive and private about their activities, even when they are not harmful or cause for concern. Many symptoms of substance abuse could also be symptoms of other problems, or harmless things like allergies or insomnia. Knowing how to group signs together and gather information from talking with your child can help to determine whether there’s an issue.

Extreme Fatigue

Many teenagers who experiment with drugs or who are dependent on drugs or alcohol may experience trouble sleeping or severe fatigue. Pay attention to your teen’s sleep habits and whether or not they have changed dramatically during a short period of time. Asking about sleep problems can also help you to gauge what is going on.

Red eyes

One sign of drug abuse, particularly marijuana use, is red or bloodshot eyes. Teens may try to hide this with use of over the counter eye drops or sunglasses. If your teen is not suffering from a cold or allergies, but seems to constantly have red eyes, you may want to consider a trip to the doctor or a conversation with your teen about why the change in appearance.

Changes in Academics

A sudden drop in grades or lack of interest in school can be a sign of substance abuse in teens. If your teen is suddenly struggling to keep up in school, talk to the school and to your child about what is going on and what caused the change. While it can be any number of things, this can be a telling indicator that something is wrong.

Changes in Social Life

If your teen suddenly has a new group of friends, you may want to pay attention to their comings and goings, what the new group is like, and what has caused the shift in social circles.

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Getting Back on Your Feet

January 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

If you’re recovering from a severe addiction, you could probably write your own book on how it destroyed your life. However, addiction doesn’t have to be the final chapter. You can take steps to fully recover from your addiction and get your life back on track! While keeping up with counseling sessions, attending meetings, and participating in a variety of support groups can keep you clean, you can do even more, when you’re ready, to rejoin society. Let’s take a look at the two best ways to feel normal again:

Get a Job

Everyone feels better when they’re able to contribute to society and support themselves. By getting a job, you can help your finances while you help yourself! Having a regular routine and feeling needed is a great way to increase your self-esteem. By feeling better about yourself and the future, you’ll be even more motivated to resist temptation and continue your new life of sobriety. If you can’t find a job right away, don’t overlook volunteer opportunities. Helping out a cause you believe in can feel just as good as a paying job, and it can create great contacts for future job searches.

Go Back to School

If your addiction started early in life, you may not have reached your educational goals or you may have set some new ones during your recovery. It’s never too late to go back to school to improve yourself and your job skills. If you are also employed, there’s a wide variety of online university programs that can let you study at your own pace and on a schedule that’s convenient to you. The most important part of going back to school is that you’ll be using your brain. This is a very important part of both your recovery effort and your overall mental health!

Congratulations on your new life of sobriety! As part of your new life, continue to improve yourself and your skills.

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Alcohol Abuse v/s Alcohol Dependence

December 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Alcohol is often consumed during social functions and is not looked upon as abuse. However, when the drinking goes beyond a social activity and becomes a health hazard, it becomes substance abuse. There are several factors that can make a person susceptible to alcohol addiction:

- Genetics: People with a family history of alcohol abuse
- Social Environment: People who associate with heavy and frequent drinkers
- Emotional Health: Mental problems like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder

Even though both categories consume unhealthy amounts of alcohol, there is a defined distinction between alcohol abusers and alcohol dependents. Alcohol abuse experts define alcohol abusers as those who have the ability to control their habit but choose not to. They choose the self-destructive and dangerous drinking pattern rather than being dependent on it.

Alcohol Abusers drink recklessly with little or no consideration for their own safety or of others. They might drink in situations where it could be dangerous, like before driving or operating heavy machinery. There alcohol habit is a way to relax and de-stress, but it can lead to them neglecting their responsibilities at home, work or school. Alcohol abusers can become alcoholics over a period of time.

Alcohol dependents, on the other hand, are physically dependent on alcohol and have no control over how much they drink. They develop a false tolerance to alcohol and drink more to get a similar high. If they stop drinking, they experience physical withdrawal symptoms. Alcoholics know they have a problem but are unable to stop.

A person may be considered an alcoholic if he:
- Feels guilty or ashamed about his alcohol consumption
- Feels the need to lie to conceal the habit
- Finds his family and friends worrying about the amount and frequency of his alcohol consumption
- Feels the need to drink in order to feel better emotionally
- Frequently blacks out after drinking
- Regularly consumes more than his intention

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Public Vs. Private Rehabs – Which Is Best?

October 2, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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No one can tell anyone what is best for that person; that is an individual decision. However, sometimes knowing the differences between things, such as public and private rehabilitation facilities, can help a person determine exactly what is best. So, here are a few of the differences:

*Public rehabilitation facilities may provide services either free or at a much reduced cost. Many municipal, county, state, and/or federally-funded organizations often charge no fees, or may require only a minimal payment (which may be included in a court fine or other legal or civil remittance).

*Private rehabilitation facilities may also be free or have minimal fees. This can include those that are supported or operated by religious, fraternal, or community organizations. However, most private facilities do charge for their services, and depending on the facility, the location, and the operators, may require a substantial fee.

Does this mean the treatment is any better at a private facility? Not necessarily, although more money may mean more amenities for the patients, which may make them feel that the experience was a little more pleasurable.

Basically, however, all rehabilitation facilities offer pretty much the same services counseling, instructions in and assistance with lifestyle changes, and support, just to name a few. And, these all are (or should be) intended to accomplish the same goal that of addiction recovery.

*Public facilities may have a waiting list; private facilities may be able to offer admission right away. Not having to wait may give a person the incentive to go through with a recovery program, whereas having to wait may give him time to think up reasons not to go, or to even continue or relapse into addictive behavior.

*Public facilities may not be allowed to address one’s spiritual or religious wishes or needs; private facilities may actually be sponsored or run by those who hold the same beliefs as the person seeking help.

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What is Substance Abuse?

September 23, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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A simple definition of substance abuse would be using a substance, specifically alcohol or some type of drug, to an extent that would be considered excessive.

Some experts, however, believe that, like anything, “excessive” may be open to interpretation because what is considered excessive for one person may be the minimal amount needed by someone else for the substance to even have any effect. Likewise, even the word “drug” may be considered as having multiple interpretations, as one person, professional or layman either one, may not consider a particular substance as falling under the category of a “drug”.

So, rather than debate the meanings of specific words, perhaps some comparisons could help us in deciding if something falls under the category of substance abuse. Not all readers may agree with the ideas put forth here, and that is fine.

Comparison #1: One to two drinks a few times a week, with little, if any, signs of intoxication, drinking does not interfere with ability to work or function in society-social or moderate drinking. Frequent drinking during a 24-hour period, drinking interferes with ability to work or function in society-substance abuse.

Comparison #2: Use of a prescribed narcotic pain reliever as prescribed or intended-legitimate use. Continuing to take the narcotic pain reliever after pain has been sufficiently alleviated or the cause has been totally eliminated, using illegal or illicit methods to obtain more than has been prescribed-substance abuse.

If you are still not certain if your situation or that of a family member’s constitutes substance abuse, you have a number of options:

*Ask yourself the twelve questions that Alcoholics Anonymous gives as guidelines to determine if you have a drinking problem. You can substitute the words “taken drugs” for drinking and drink.
*Ask a trusted friend or clergyperson-someone who will be honest, but will not betray the confidence – if he or she thinks you have a problem.
*Ask your healthcare professional if you are showing symptoms of substance abuse.

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What Are Some Warning Signs Of Substance Abuse?

September 21, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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Substance abuse can manifest itself in physical, emotional, and psychological ways. Let’s look at them separately; however, remember that there are other signs, so none of these lists should be considered all-inclusive.

Physical: While it is true that some of the symptoms listed mimic actual illnesses, taken with the emotional and psychological symptoms, they can be considered as caused by substance abuse:

*Excessive sniffling or a runny nose: This can be a sign of drug use where the drug being used is inhaled through the nose.

*Bloodshot eyes: Can be a sign of alcohol abuse, marijuana abuse, or sleeplessness caused by using any number of drugs.

*Excessive sweating: Can be a sign of withdrawal (in other words, the person is needing to take more drugs).

*Muscles tremors (“twitching”): Can occur with methamphetamine use or as a sign of the “DTs”—severe alcohol withdrawal.

*Extreme weight loss: Caused by not eating at all or not eating enough because the body is not sending hunger signals.

*Sores, scabs, or physical signs of injection on the body, especially in the crook of the elbow or other places where easy access to a vein is possible.

Emotional and Psychological: Since many of these symptoms can actually be both emotional and psychological, they are listed together:

*Inappropriate reactions to immediate situations, such as laughing at a serious moment, or unexplained crying when there is really no good reason.

*Little or no reaction to any situation, immediate or otherwise.

*Paranoia.

*Hallucinations. This is often common when a patient is suffering from alcohol withdrawal.

*Extreme mood swings, from happy to sad or extreme anger when it is unwarranted.
Inability to remember recent events. This can occur after excessive drinking; it is sometimes referred to as “blackout.”

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