Why Alcohol and Drugs Appeal to Teens
When children enter their teen years, one of their parents’ biggest fears is usually alcoholism and drug abuse. Most of us have heard stories of so-called ‘normal families’ who have lost their children to drugs and alcohol, despite fighting to keep the latter on the straight and narrow. Before panicking, however, it pays to be aware of the reasons why children may turn to drugs and alcohol in the first place. Most parents chalk it all to peer pressure, yet there are many other reasons why a child may be compelled to escape into oblivion via mind-altering substances. These include a desire to break free of excessive parental control, a need to gain greater confidence by indulging in ‘cool’ habits like drinking and drug taking, or the wish to escape from the symptoms of common mental conditions like anxiety or depression, whose symptoms can be overwhelming. If you are concerned about addiction, let greater awareness be your first step. Once you know why your child might drink or take drugs, you may decide to take proactive steps to address specific issues, so that alcohol and substances cease to be a panacea for your child. Please read this link, so that you can review the details of some of the most basic emotional reasons teens turn to alcohol (it’s appealing, a short term escape, they want to be accepted, it’s relieving, it’s an act of rebellion, and they are curious). One of the best pieces of advice in the article for parents is, “it’s important for you, the parent, to make every effort to genuinely ‘get them’.” This can be hard when the teenager is operating under emotional turmoil, thus oftentimes making the parental relations strained. But, really, if a family can get through the teen years together well, it makes a world of difference for the future and health of everyone involved.
The intro above was provided by ACG reader, Mel Davenport, who is, herself, a writer and editor with a special interest in health and well-being. She read Rachel Lohmann’s article for Pro Talk, and wanted to share it. Raychelle Lohmann has been a counselor since 1998. She has done extensive research in the domain of anger management and careers. She is a published author and enjoys speaking and presenting at conferences and facilitating workshops.