Dealing with Teenage Drug Problem

Taking drugs is not always a result of peer pressure. Often there are deep rooted causes. This needs absolute understanding and unconditional support.

Drug or substance abuse is a widespread phenomenon of modern day society. Although this menace is widespread, parents often seem to believe that their own children are insulated from any such hazard. And when their child takes to this lethal habit, they are devastated.

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Though substance abuse is nothing more than a sort of psychosomatic ailment that can easily be treated, yet parents find themselves paralysed when faced with it. The helplessness of parents is not due to their lack of awareness; they fear the social stigma attached to drug addiction. Parents tend to focus more about their stature in society rather than attending to the immediate emergency at hand. 

It has often been the case that trust, goodwill and faith towards the child, has helped him to regain good health in a short period of time. Whatever emotional damage they might have suffered, as a result of substance abuse, is healed to a great extent by means of positive parenting. Therefore, if you are a parent to a teenage junkie then forget about the rest of the world and focus on your little one. Your responsibility lies with him. You are not answerable to anyone else.

A Little Help from You

In most cases, lots of parental care and a little prescribed medication can help kids to cope with children who have been into substance addiction. However, in some cases parents should seek expert medical and psychological assistance to help their children recuperate from this habit once and for all. In rare cases hospitalisation and aid of a long-term drug rehabilitation program may be required.
 
You may take a wholly different approach to successfully cope with an eventuality such as this.

• Be Supportive – Provide unflinching support to your child.  Provide support that is unconditional and committed to the cause of your child’s recovery. Let them know that you will stand by them no matter what and see this to the end.

• Ask Questions – Ask questions to find out how severe the addiction is. Increase the frequency of communication with your child and try to understand the severity of their problem by gently making general enquiries about the addiction- how it started, the type of substance being used, how they feel after taking it, how often is the intake and so on.
 
The facts that you garner from your child will help you to understand your child. This will also help the treatment.

• Divert Attention – Engage your child’s attention towards productive pursuits. Try to not leave your child idle. Encourage your child to pursue things and activities they like to do. 
If your child has regained health and is fully fit, encourage them to take up outdoor sports and activities. Furthermore, outdoor activities such as hiking, nature walks, camping, mountain biking, visits to nature reserves and botanical gardens, will help your child to beat depression and also provide the much needed psychological healing.

• Expert Help – Take expert help whenever required.  If your child’s addiction can be cured by your attention and some medical intervention, fine enough. However, if the habit has been there for a long period of time, expert medical help and counselling would be required. 

For long-term addiction, your child may also have to go through a long-term rehabilitation program or hospitalisation.

As a parent your understanding of the situation and unconditional support to your child will go a long way in helping your child come out clean and strong. According to Manish Kapoor, a teen counsellor, “Children who face difficulties in growing up start taking drugs to cope with stress and loneliness in their life.” He says, “Once this problem is detected parents need to talk on this issue, provide motivation, and divert the attention of their children towards productive pursuits.” He adds, “Parents must adopt a sympathetic attitude towards their child when dealing with this issue. Prevent conditions that may force your child to go back to substance abuse.”