Teens Alcohol and Drugs

Teens: Alcohol and Other Drugs
from Facts for Families from The American Academy
of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (No. 3, 9/89)

Most teenagers will have some experience with alcohol or other drugs. Most will experiement and stop, or continue to use casually without significant problems. Some will use regularly, with varying degrees of physical, emotional, and social problems. Some will develop chemical dependency and be destructive to themselves and others for many years. Some will die, and some will cause others to die.

Many grow out of using alcohol and other drugs. But since there is no certain way to predict which teenagers will develop serious problems, all use should be considered dangerous. Saying no is often part fo the solution, but "just saying no" is often not enough.

Legally available drugs include alcohol (over 21) and tobacco products (over a certain age), prescribed medications, inhalants and over-the-counter cough, cold, sleep and diet medications. Illegal drubs include marijuana, cocaine/"crack," LSD, PCP, opiates, heroin and "designer drugs."

Although the use of some drugs have leveled off recently, the use of others has not. In particular, usage rates of alcohol, cigarettes, and "crack" remain major areas of concern.

Warning signs of teenage drug abuse include:

Physical: lasting fatigue, repeated health complaints, red and dull eyes, and a lot of coughing.

Emotional: sudden mood changes, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, depression, and lack of interest.

Family: starting arguments or breaking rules within the family, or withdrawing from the family.

School: drop in grades, many absences, discipline problems.

Social Problems: illegal activities, scrapes with the law, new group of friends, and changes in dressing and music.

Substance-abusing teenagers often hide, deny and explain away these signs and symptoms.

Some of the warning signs listed above can also be signs of other problems. Parents may recognize signs of trouble but should not be expected to make the diagnosis. An effective way for parents to show care and concern for their teenager is honestly to discuss the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Consulting a physician to rule out physical causes of the warning signs is a good first step. This should often be followed or accompanied by a comprehensive evaluation by a child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Children of Alcoholics

At least seven Million American children have alcoholic parents. Child and adolescent psychiatrists know these children are a greater risk for having emotional problems than children whose parents are not alcoholics. Alcoholism runs in families, and children of alcoholics are four times more likely than other children to become alcoholics themselves.

A child in such a family may have a variety of problems:

Guilt: The child may see himself or herself as the main cause of the mother's or father's drinking.

Anxiety: The child may worry constantly about the situation at home. He or she is afraid the alcoholic parent will become sick or injured, and may also fear fights and violence between the parents.

Embarrassment: Parents may give the message that there is a terrible secret at home. The ashamed child does not invite friends home and is afraid to ask someone for help.

Inability to have close relationships: Because the child has been disappointed by the drinking parent many times, he or she often does not trust others.

Confusion: The alcoholic parent will change suddenly from being loving to angry, regardless of the child's behavior. A regular daily schedule, which is very important for a child, does not exist because bedtimes and mealtimes are constantly changing.

Anger: The child feels anger at the alcoholic parent for drinking, and may be angry at the non-alcoholic parent for lack of support and protection.

Depression: The child feels lonely and helpless to change the situation.