subject: 8 Effective Ways To Determine The Risk Factors Of 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. To help end the substance abuse and save the teen's life, it is important to determine the different possible causes behind the substance abuse. There are some ways to find teen substance abuse risk factors:
Find out if the teen's parents struggle with substance abuse
Parental addiction history is one common co-factor for at-risk adolescents. When parents abuse alcohol or drugs, there is a greater chance that their teen will also struggle with substance abuse. Often the adolescent will assume that he or she is not at risk for alcoholism or drug addiction, as the parents are positively disposed toward their own use. In this situation, teenagers at risk will think that because their parents are abused it is alright for them to do likewise.
Determine whether the teen lacks parental guidance
If parents are not watchful about their teenager's activities and whereabouts, it becomes very easy for them to turn to substance abuse. Teens who are not emotionally attached to their parents have a greater chance of becoming substance abusers in comparison with teens who spend a lot of time with their family or who have sufficient parental supervision.
At home, problem about the teen should be learned
It is not really surprising that teenagers with issues at home have a tendency to seek relief from their issues in drugs and alcohol. 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.
Ask your teen if they feel pressured by their peers
A common way a teenagers gets involved with substance abuse is from peer pressure. No matter how carefully parents monitor their teen, he or she may learn to make excuses and get away with it. A teen will try to go with the flow and make sure he fits in, if all or most of his friends are into drugs or alcohol.
You may even want to observe where the teen lives
Geography is as relevant as family structure. The incidence of drug and alcohol abuse is much higher in places where those substances are readily available.
Discover if the teen has been abused in any way
Alcohol or drug use are often used as an escape for a teen who has suffered abuse, either emotional, physical or psychological. Discover if the teenager has been mistreated in his or her house, school, or with acquaintances to find out the probability of any drug or alcohol problem.
Determine whether the teenager is suffering from some longstanding and unattended health problems
The teen may have some untreated or hopeless health condition which may be the cause of his substance abuse. He could turn to alcohol or drugs due to depression. When the teen feels that all is hopeless, they may think nothing they do makes any difference to their future.
Personal characteristics and behaviors can be analyzed in order to see if they will lead to possible substance abuse
A teenager's demeanor can many times let you figure out if they are abusing alcohol or drugs. As well as an extremely insecure personality, it can also be a risk factor in having an extremely disobedient and rebellious character.
Into substance abuse, any teen can get into. One way of determining if a person is at risk of substance abuse is by taking a close look at family, friends and personality. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so always be alert to the type of environment that your teenager is exposing himself to so that you can help him now and in the future.
by: Jacob Schiffer
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