subject: Eight Helpful Ways That Will Help Determine Risk Factors Among Teen Substance Abuse [print this page] Substance abuse includes using alcohol, illicit drugs, and other substances often that can also harm a teen's health and future. In order to save an adolescent's life and also to control the abuse and put the same to an end, analyzing the various probable causes at the back of the teen substance abuse is quite significant. There are some ways to find teen substance abuse risk factors:
Do the teen's parents abuse drugs or alcohol?
Parental substance abuse, regardless whether it is both parents or just one, is a good indication that teenager is going to start abusing drugs and or alcohol as well. The chances that an adolescent will have alcohol or drug abuse problems is greater when their mother or father is a substance abuser. A teenager will believe that their is little danger connected to alcohol or drug abuse, because his parents show a positive attitudes towards using these things. In this situation, teenagers at risk will think that because their parents are abused it is alright for them to do likewise.
Check whether the teenager is lacking in support and guidance from parents
When parents do not actively monitor or are careless regarding their teen's whereabouts, it is easier for the teen to leave the home and use different substances. Studies have shown that teenagers who have a close relationship with family, or are at least being adequately monitored by them, have a smaller risk of abusing substances compared to teens who lack these controls.
Learn about the teen's problems at home
A lot of teenagers turn to dangerous substances when they want to get away from the problems in reality. The risk of teen substance abuse is higher if they face difficult problems at home, such as divorcing parents, a mother nagging constantly or an alcoholic father.
Question the teenager to see if they are being pressured by friends to do something
A common way a teenagers gets involved with substance abuse is from peer pressure. A teen may learn to make excuses and get away with it, no matter how carefully parents monitor them. Your adolescent child may try to go by the company of his/her friends if most or all of his friends are drug or alcohol addict so as to be fully comfortable in that company.
Look into the neighborhood where the teen lives
The neighborhood where the teen lives is also an important determining factor. In places where alcohol and illicit drugs are rampant, the chance for substance abuse is also high.
You may need to probe a bit in order to learn whether the teenager has been the victim of abusive treatment
Alcohol or drug use are often used as an escape for a teen who has suffered abuse, either emotional, physical or psychological. Find out if the teen has been abused in any way at home, in school, or among his friends in order to determine the likelihood of substance abuse.
Determine whether the teenager is suffering from some longstanding and unattended health problems
A child in poor health has a much greater chance of abusing substances than one who is not. He could turn to alcohol or drugs due to depression. Teens in this situation may think that whatever they do with their lives doesn't matter because of their hopeless condition.
Looks for traits that are likely to cause addiction
A teenager's demeanor can many times let you figure out if they are abusing alcohol or drugs. Some personality traits such as insecurity and rebelliousness are associated with increased risks.
Any teen can be vulnerable to using drugs and alcohol. To help determine one's risk to substance abuse, you'll need to learn more about his family, friends, his personality, and his condition. Prevention is always better than the cure, so it helps to be mindful of a teen's environment and act to save his life and his future.
by: Jacob Schiffer
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