Being a teenager and raising a teenager are individually, and collectively, enormous challenges. For many teens, illicit substance use and abuse become part of the landscape of their teenage years. Although most adolescents who use drugs do not progress to become drug abusers, or drug addicts in adulthood, drug use in adolescence is a very risky proposition. Even small degrees of substance abuse (for example, alcohol, marijuana, and inhalants) can have negative consequences. Typically, school and relationships, notably family relationships, are among the life areas that are most influenced by drug use and abuse.

One of the most telling signs of a teen's increasing involvement with drugs is when drug use becomes part of the teen's daily life. Preoccupation with drugs can crowd out previously important activities, and the manner in which the teen views him or her self may change in unrealistic and inaccurate directions. Friendship groups may change, sometimes dramatically, and relationships with family members can become more distant or conflictual. Further bad signs include more frequent use or use of greater amounts of a certain drug, or use of more dangerous drugs, such as cocaine, amphetamines, or heroin. Persistent patterns of drug use in adolescence are a sign that problems in that teen's environment exist and need to be addressed immediately.

What causes adolescent substance abuse?

There is no single cause of adolescent drug problems. Drug abuse develops over time; it does not start as full-blown abuse or addiction. There are different pathways or routes to the development of a teen's drug problems. Some of the factors that may place teens at risk for developing drug problems include:

· insufficient parental supervision and monitoring
· lack of communication and interaction between parents and kids
· poorly defined and poorly communicated rules and expectations
against drug use
· inconsistent and excessively severe discipline
· family conflict
· favorable parental attitudes toward adolescent alcohol and drug use, and parental alcoholism or drug use

It is important to also pay attention to individual risk factors. These include:

· high sensation seeking
· impulsiveness
· psychological distress
· difficulty maintaining emotional stability
· perceptions of extensive use by peers
· perceived low harmfulness to use

How do you know when to seek help?

The earlier one seeks help for their teen's behavioral or drug problems, the better. How is a parent to know if their teen is experimenting with or moving more deeply into the drug culture? Above all a parent must be a good and careful observer, particularly of the little details that make up a teen's life. Overall signs of dramatic change in appearance, friends, or physical health may be signs of trouble. If a parent believes his or her child may be drinking or using drugs, here are some things to watch for:

What kinds of treatment will work?

Evidence shows that certain forms of family therapy are the most effective treatments for drug problems. A qualified Marriage and Family Therapist can evaluate and assess a teen's substance abuse problem, and will then provide appropriate treatment for the adolescent, which may include outpatient therapy or therapy in a residential treatment facility. Therapy will focus on a number of important life areas of the teen, in addition to his or her relationships with parents. It is essential for parents to be involved in the teen's treatment. Relationships are a critical ingredient to combat a teen's drug problems.

Parents and guardians need to be aware of the power they have to influence the development of their kids throughout the teenage years. Adolescence brings a new and dramatic stage to family life. The changes that are required are not just the teen's to make; parents need to change their relationship with their teenager. It is best if parents are proactive about the challenges of this life cycle stage, particularly those that pertain to the possibility of experimenting with and using alcohol and drugs. Parents cannot be afraid to talk directly to their kids about drug use, even if they have had problems with drugs or alcohol themselves. An excellent resource on how to talk to kids about drugs is Parents - The Anti-Drug (www.theantidrug.com). Parents are encouraged to give clear, no-use messages about smoking, drugs, and alcohol. It is important for kids and teens to understand that the rules and expectations set by parents are based on parental love and concern for their well being. Parents should also be actively involved and demonstrate interest in their teen's friends and social activities. Spending quality time with teens and setting good examples are essential. Even if problems such as substance abuse already exist in the teen's life, parents and families can still have a positive influence on their teen's behavior.

Consumer Resources

Boys into Men: Raising our African American Teenage Sons. By Nancy Boyd Franklin and AJ Franklin. EP Dutton (2000).

Field Guide to the American Teenager: A Parent's Companion. By Joseph DiPrisco and Michael Riera. NY: Perseus Book Group (2000).

Raising Emotionally Intelligent Teenagers: Parenting with Love, Laughter, and Limits. By Maurice Elias, Steven Tobias, Brian Friedlander, and Gotham Chopra. NY: Harmony Books (2000).

Reviving Ophelia: Saving the Selves of Adolescent Girls. By Mary Pipher. NY: Ballantine Books (1995).

When Nothing Matters Anymore: A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens. By Bev Cobain and Elizabeth Verdick. NY Free Spirit Publishing (1998).

You and Your Adolescent. By Laurence Steinberg and Ann Levine. NY: Harper/Collins (1997).

Marijuana: Facts for Teens
http://165.112.78.61/MarijBroch/Marijteens.html
Provides information about marijuana on a level that teens can relate to, such as its effects on school activities and how to quit using the drug.

Marijuana: Facts Parents Need to Know:
http://165.112.78.61/MarijBroch/MarijParentsN.html
Gives information for parents about marijuana, its uses and effects, as well as tips on talking to your child about marijuana.

Parents - The Anti-Drug
www.theantidrug.com
Provides advice, information, and resources for parents who are battling adolescent drug abuse.

Partnership for a Drug-Free America
www.drugfreeamerica.org
Latest news on drugs, stories of recovery and treatment, as well as help for teens and parents.

Talking with Kids about Tough Issues
www.talkingwithkids.org
Provides instructions and information for parents when talking to their children about issues such as drug and alcohol use, HIV and AIDS, violence, and sex.

Teen Drug Use and Abuse Prevention
www.parentingteens.com
Gives parents information on drugs, as well as how to talk to their teens about certain substances.

Tips 4 Youth
www.cdc.gov/tobacco/tips4youth.htm
Details reasons why smoking is such a health risk, as well as how youth can find help to quit smoking.

Marriage and family therapists are mental health professionals who treat a wide array of disorders, working with individuals, couples, and families. Marriage and family therapy clients report that they are highly satisfied with the services they have received, and research shows that marriage and family therapy is a cost-effective, short-term, and results-oriented form of treatment.

The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), the professional organization representing marriage and family therapists, believes that therapists with specific and rigorous training in marriage and family therapy provide the most effective mental health care to individuals, couples, and families. This brochure is courtesy of:
the AAMFT.

Visit the AAMFT TherapistLocator.net, a public service of the AAMFT. There you will find information about a range of problems facing today's families, and you can search for a qualified family therapist in your area.