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Do you recognize the change in our society? Is it only the bright side that one may cherish? We may or may not see, but other facts are growing along at a terrifying speed.

Unfortunately, most of the youth nowadays indulge in hazardous activities. Usually, they do this out of curiosity, trying to experiment with addictive substances, like alcohol and drugs. While growing up, teenagers think that it is safe to ingest drugs. Not only is this risky, but it can cause numerous problems in the future.

Some teenagers are supposed to take prescribed medications, and they later get addicted to it. There might be peer pressure involved, too, resulting in devastating consequences. Whatever the reason might be, substance abuse can be hazardous, especially for teenagers.

WHAT IS SUBSTANCE ABUSE?

The term ”substance abuse” is linked with the abnormal and harmful use of psychoactive substances, such as drugs and alcohol. A psychoactive drug is a chemically composed substance that takes over the central nervous system, altering the necessary brain functions. When taken abnormally, it affects a person’s behavior, mood, perception, and consciousness. Hence, called ”substance abuse” as people get addicted to it and lose control over their lives.

Globally, substance abuse is a significant health issue, which needs to get addressed at a priority. Being addicted is a chronic problem that can lead to premature death. Due to alcohol addiction, some lasting changes take place in the brain.

If you know somebody going through illicit drugs, tobacco, or alcohol abuse, try to get some help. There are specific treatments for patients dealing with substance abuse. The residents of California can get Addiction Treatment in San Diego and fight off substance abuse symptoms.

While talking about the symptoms, let us look into the common signs of drug abuse in adolescence.

SYMPTOMS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN ADOLESCENCE:

There are many ways to know if a teenager is using drugs or not. Sometimes, it might be challenging to identify those symptoms, but it is not impossible. An active parent or friend can easily distinguish between a troubled teenager and a healthy one. Teenagers usually go through social, emotional, physiological, and mental changes while taking drugs.

If you pay close attention to their lifestyle, you will realize many ups and downs. At times, there might be some warning signs of these problems that you may ignore. Here are some common indicators of drug abuse that you should know:

• Being in close contact with friends or relatives who are addicted to drugs or alcohol
• Struggling with anxiety, depression, or other mental issues
• Showing no improvement in studies or scoring low grades
• Having bloodshot eyes, almost all day and night
• Behaving in a weird manner, such as laughing or crying out of the blue
• Losing interest in different activities and hobbies
• Diminishing personal appearance
• Experiencing poor hygienic health
• Loss of appetite
• Frequent hunger pangs
• Feeling tired, 24/7
• Staying outside past curfew
• Feeling low self-esteem
• Experiencing extreme mood swings
• Not being socially active

All of these symptoms showcase the alarming nature of substance abuse. If you would not like to see your loved ones suffer the consequences, try to stand against this issue. Drug addiction tends to offset the tone of teenagers’ future completely. Luckily, there are some ways out of this.

Yes, substance abuse is treatable in different ways. Some methods are more effective, but it usually depends on the condition of the patient. Before taking the first step toward recovery, it is essential to find out more about the treatment options. Everyone’s treatment needs, preferences, and priorities are different that’s why it is necessary to put together all the information that helps you to choose treatment options. However, please know that the road to recovery is not an easy one. Since substance abuse is a chronic problem, it needs to get treated accordingly.

There are numerous options you can consider for your loved one’s recovery:

• BEHAVIORAL COUNSELING

Behavioral counseling is a standard drug abuse treatment, which has helped many teenagers. Such therapies can be done individually, in groups, or with family members. This method allows teenagers to get rid of their self-destructive behaviors and change for the better. There are different types of behavioral therapies that focus on treating the underlying issues related to drug abuse. For example, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 12-Step Facilitation Therapy, Family Behavior Therapy, Contingency Management, and Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy, to name a few.

• MEDICATION:

Medications help teenagers in recovering at a fast pace. Through taking medicines timely, patients can stay sober for a long time. Doctors usually prescribe small doses taken over an extended time to relieve the withdrawal symptoms. Some medications used to treat substance abuse are Benzodiazepines, Clonidine, and Antidepressants.

• REGULAR EXERCISE:

Being physically active is a great way to overcome the substance abuse issue. Regular exercise can keep the teenagers occupied in wholesome things. In this way, they can release the uncomfortable emotions that have piled up over time.

• MEDITATION:

Recovering from substance abuse is difficult, and meditation can relieve some of the anxiety. While motivating the teenagers to stay sober, try encouraging towards meditation. It will have a positive impact on their depression, anxiety, and overall health. Practicing mindfulness will enable them to take back control and do the right thing.

HOW DO BEHAVIORAL THERAPIES HELP IN TREATING SUBSTANCE ABUSE?

If a teenager suffers from substance abuse, mental issues, and eating disorders, treat them through counseling. This treatment is a problem-focused and goal-directed approach that has the following benefits.

• It explores the behavioral patterns of the patient that can lead to self-destruction.
• It allows patients and therapists to keep working together by forming a therapeutic relationship.
• It helps in identifying the harmful actions to alter them over time.
• It assists the patient in learning practical approaches to stay sober and treat the issue from the inside.
• It formulates coping strategies to handle any further problems or difficulties after becoming sober.

WHEN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN ADOLESCENCES?

 The sooner you will treat substance abuse, the easier it will be to recover from it. Try to identify the minor symptoms of drug abuse and do not let them become major ones. Nobody would like to see this disease progress into a severe one, especially at such a young age.

CONCLUSION:

Now that you know the symptoms and treatments of substance abuse, try to help the nearby cases. They are still naïve about many things, and this is one of them. If you want to secure their future, take one step at a time, and do the needed. After all, health comes first.