[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H215u_B43EI]
This Video is sexy for about 3 seconds showing the realities of teen binge drinking as it becomes very real…not for the light of heart.
Click here to contact us for more info regarding teen binge drinking
A new study revealed that marijuana in the U.S. now has a THC potency of 10%, compared to 4% in 1983. This figure alarms many experts who fear that adolescents who are currently abusing the drug are at a higher risk for serious side effects such as dysphoria, paranoia, and irritability. As the debate over the legalization of marijuana continues, consideration of teenage drug users should not be ignored.Many teens don’t take marijuana abuse seriously, but its abuse can bring just as much destruction and havoc to a teen’s life as any other drug. If a teen is abusing any substance, from cough syrup to heroin, it is a red flag of a serious condition that does need to be addressed. Few teens who abuse drugs can find support from within their immediate peer group with regards to recovery, which is why adolescent treatment is such a helpful solution.
When I was using, I didn’t have any friends in Orange County that I thought would support me getting off of drugs. Since my peers used drugs, it seemed like normal teenage behavior. Maybe it was, for some of them, but for me, it was total hell. In residential treatment, I learned that it wasn’t about the substances I used or how much I used that made me an addict. It was the obsession and compulsion to use, regardless of the consequences. It was the pain of not being able to stop even when I wanted to. It was my deep self loathing. I learned it’s not up to me to figure out if my friends were addicts or not; I could only take responsibility for my own recovery. That meant that when I left residential treatment, I had to find new friends that supported my recovery. Sometimes it was really lonely, but as long as I kept my recovery a priority, as I learned to do it rehab, I could continue to plow through challenging times and come out a stronger person.I have so many friends today that have helped me walk through all situations in my life, and that love and support me for being me.
Click here to contact us about teen marijuana dependence
The University of Southern California has released a study showing that people who drink to improve one’s mood are more likely to become dependent on alcohol and are more prone to depression. Using alcohol as a coping mechanism causes one to ignore what’s really going on emotionally and negative feelings can ferment, leading to depression, which usually leads to more drinking. This is especially alarming because of another recent study showing that adolescents that drink when depressed are at a higher risk of suicidal behavior.
When the alcohol and drugs are taken away from an addict or alcoholic, the negative feelings can remain. This is why I am glad I got clean in treatment because it gave me a safe place to address my depression and other issues. As I detoxed, doctors were finally able to get a better diagnosis for me, since there weren’t any drugs in me altering my mood. I learned more positive ways to deal with my depression. As I addressed the underlying issue in residential treatment, I began to find ways to deal with my feelings that didn’t involve cutting, using drugs, drinking, or my eating disorder. I learned that I couldn’t always control my brain and my feelings but that I could change how I reacted to those feelings. I had to learn to take responsibility for my life and my recovery. This comprehensive approach to my situation let me leave treatment a whole person, the person I was meant to be.
Click here to contact us about adolescent alcoholism and teen depression
Professional athletes and Olympians aren’t the only ones juicing up. Performance-enhancing drug abuse by teenagers is an area that is often overlooked. Junior high and high school athletes often feel intense pressure to perform well from the stresses of trying to obtain athletic scholarships, coach, parental and peer pressure, and unhealthy body images. As junior high and high school has become more and more competitive, the demands of scholastic and athletic success can lead teens to look to drugs to gain a competitive edge, as mentioned earlier this week in regards to stimulants. Sometimes teens look to performance enhancing drugs such as Creatine, Anabolic Steroids, and Steroid Precursors such as DHEA. Creatine is an over-the-counter supplement used to increase muscle mass and strength. Side effects include muscle cramps, nausea, and high doses can severely damage the kidneys. Anabolic steroids are synthetic testosterone that can increase strength and muscle mass, but also can halt bone growth resulting in a short stature for still-growing adolescents. Most steroid precursors are illegal without a prescription, but DHEA can still be bought in over-the-counter supplements, says the Mayo Health Clinic. Side effects are similar to those of steroids. Dependence on these substances can have devastating effects. Signs of performance-enhancing drug abuse in your son may include increased acne and male pattern baldness. Girls who take these drugs may develop a deeper voice and dark facial hair. Teens abusing these drugs may have increased moodiness or fits of “’roid rage”.
Since this is an area often left out of the discussion about the dangers of drug use and few people suspect teens of such abuse, increased discussion is imperative. Talk to your teen about the dangers of performance-enhancing drug abuse, and encourage an ethical attitude and the importance of fair play. Set rules, such as taking away their sports privileges if drugs are taken, and make sure they understand the dangers and consequences of drug abuse. Monitor your teen’s purchases, checking for potentially harmful ingredients, and make sure your child’s coach knows that performance-enhancing drug abuse will not be tolerated. Communication with your teen is essential- even if they act like they know everything. Let them know you support them regardless of their athletic ability. Teens often perceive pressure from parents and coaches and put undue amounts of pressure on themselves. Check in with your teen about the demands of their schedule. If it seems to be too much, work with them to make life more manageable. Athletics can be a fulfilling part of high school life, but if they are negatively affecting other parts of your teen’s life, it may be time to reassess their importance. Having your child playing for the [insert favorite college team here] may be great, but not if it kills them in the process. If you do suspect that your teen is abusing performance-enhancing drugs, don’t hesitate to contact us. Performance-enhancing drug abuse is a serious issue with serious consequences. Regardless of the substance, teen drug abuse deserves serious attention, and we are here to help.
Click here for more info on teen steroid abuse
Teen suicide risks increase when a depressed teen drinks. Really? At first I wasn’t really surprised to read this, but the numbers are actually quite staggering: A new study has reported that suicide risk rose 68% in teens who drank when they were depressed and who had contemplated suicide before. The risk increased threefold in those who had never contemplated suicide before. Suicide is the number three killer of teens in the US, and recognizing and respecting the link between alcohol abuse and suicide may help lower this number in the future.
Alcohol abuse in teens can contribute to depression, creating more of a need for alcohol. As the effects wear off or become harder to obtain, teens may feel more and more depressed. As dependence grows, so does hopelessness, loneliness, fear, and isolation- many of the same feelings that lead teens to attempt suicide. No one should underestimate the emotional devastation that alcohol can wreak on a young person’s life. If you are a teen struggling with addiction or the parent of a teen suffering from substance or alcohol abuse, don’t give up. Help exists and recovery is possible.
Please contact us if your teen is suffering from depression
Signs of Anorexia or Bulimia, by an Anorexic/Bulimic
There are plenty of websites with useful lists of signs and symptoms of eating disorders, and I thought I’d add my own explanations or other versions of the symptoms- kind of like what I would have looked for if I was going to bust myself when I was an anorexic/bulimic teen.
· Wearing loose or baggy clothing either because of perceived weight gain or to hide weight loss.
· Taking a shower right after meal time. As soon as I was done with dinner with the family, I ran off to take a shower. I thought the sound of water running covered up the sound of vomiting and shampoo smells covered up vomit smells. Gross, I know.
· Strange food rituals such as pushing the food around on the plate, cutting food into tiny pieces, or making sure lips avoid contact with the fork when eating. I personally tore food apart into little pieces. I absolutely hated biting into anything. Food was unrecognizable on the plate when I was done. I still kind of do this. I also tended to pick apart food, eating only certain parts, such as only the cheese on pizza or only the carrots in soup. Don’t even get me started on what happened to burritos.
· Bizarre rules regarding food that seem to defy logic. Example: I hate chicken. I do not, in fact hate all chicken. I hate chicken in salad or chicken strips. I hate chicken breast or chicken in a sandwich. Chicken salad is ok as is rotisserie chicken and a whole fried chicken, but then only white meat. Chicken in soup is okay, as long as the pieces are really little, and I can do chicken in curry sauces, but again only if the chicken is really little and I don’t have to cut it. So, figure that out.
· A sudden switch to vegetarianism, veganism, or other restricted diet. This is not a definite sign but when combined with other behaviors it should be considered a red flag in my opinion. By switching to vegetarianism, I eliminated an entire food group and could be much more picky about the foods I ate.
· Frequent sore throats or swollen glands (from vomiting). My orthodontist was the only person that didn’t buy my line about my retainer giving me all of those ulcers in my mouth.
· Bloodshot eyes or watery eyes upon emerging from the bathroom. Also, check the toilet occasionally. Sometimes we miss a spot. Also, if your toilet is suddenly very clean, you may have a bulimic on your hands. And seriously, vomit smells. If you get it on your hand or in your hair (it totally happens), you will smell like vomit. Smelling like vomit means you probably just vomited.
· Constantly reading nutritional content on food labels.
· Reading about eating disorders. Sometimes those are the best places to get ideas.
· Bruised or callused knuckles. (Stomach acid will do that to you.)
· Visible restriction of food. Visible agitation when confronted with food.
· Reluctance to eat in front of people. Harsh criticism of others’ eating habits.
· Excessive exercise.
· Seems to have always “just eaten”. I liked to act like I had already eaten at school or at a friend’s house. If you never see your teen eat, they might not be eating.
· Rigid, perfectionist personality. Very small issues would set me off. Typically numb to large events like moving or people dying and hysterical when I got a “C” in class.
· Anger or defensiveness when confronted about eating issues. Visible irritation when “trapped” after a meal, such as at a restaurant or Thanksgiving with family.
These are just some of the behaviors I engaged in when I was active in my eating disorder. Recovery is a very difficult journey but I believe it is possible. It is not as black and white as not using drugs, but I make progress every day in continuing to develop a healthier relationship to food and weight. In our culture, that can be difficult, but fortunately I got my foundation in a safe and structured environment where I could begin the healing process.
If you suspect your teen is struggling with an eating disorder, don’t hesitate to contact us.
I was going through old journals the other day when I came across some truly sad entries about my inability to stop cutting myself. As I battled my various issues, new ones tended to pop up lack a game of whack-a-mole. I stopped using drugs? Bam! Here comes my eating disorder! I stopped puking after meals? Bam! It’s time for cutting! No more cutting? Bam! Drugs again! This cycle continued for what seemed like forever until I got my fully comprehensive treatment at Visions. It wasn’t until I recognized all manifestations of my addiction simultaneously that I began to recover in all areas of my life.
I think that my tendency to self-injure may have been the most baffling and insidious of all. Even today, when frustrations arise, my first impulse is to hurt myself- not to use drugs or eat a bunch of donuts. I used to get so angry and feelings would well up so hard and so fast that nothing else would calm me down. When my family tried to keep sharp things from me, I improvised. I was crafty. I could make weapons like I was raised in a prison. I wore long sleeves year round, decided to “bring back arm warmers!” and had insane excuses for what happened to my arms: I tripped while carrying a fish tank. I fell into a thorn patch while rollerblading. My friend has a really big, mean, OCD cat. There is also a strange habit I’ve noticed most of us cutters do- we tug on our sleeves. Constantly. It’s like nervous energy is just exploding out of us.
In adolescent treatment, they knew what I was about, and I couldn’t get away with any of my old tricks. I had to learn the most frustrating, boring, but eventually worthwhile solution: sitting on my hands. Everyone always says, “The feeling will pass,” or “Just walk through the feeling,” but what does that even mean? Sitting on my hands taught me how to sit through feelings. Where before I would have never tolerated the discomfort of a feeling, I began to learn how to just sit and feel. I hated it. I absolutely hated it. I would cry and pout, but when it was over- I hadn’t done it. That little victory led to more. I began to realize that just because I feel like doing something doesn’t mean I have to do it, and I began to use my little victories as ammunition against the voice in my head that told me cutting or using or puking was the only solution. Anger management and art therapy gave me new ways to deal with my feelings, but sometimes, I just had to sit there. And it got better. It may be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but breaking the cycle of self abuse is possible.
Contact us for self harm and dual diagnosis adolescent treatment
The Partnership for a Drug Free America has found that parents are becoming increasingly aware of the dangers of prescription drug abuse in their children. Lack of concern about prescription drug abuse among youth has dropped significantly over the last several years as parents become more and more aware of the increasing number of adolescents abusing prescription medications. One in five adolescents reports misusing prescription medications, and the study reports that parents are more likely to talk to their children about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and street drugs rather than prescriptions.
A recent national telephone survey indicates that parents also underestimate how easy it is for teenagers to acquire prescription medications. 19% percent of teenagers report that prescriptions are the easiest drugs to buy, with alcohol being easiest to buy for 15% of teenagers. The study also found a strong correlation between adolescent prescription drug abuse and the degree of parental awareness in their child’s nightly activities. Of the teen’s out past 10pm, half of them claimed to be with people who were using drugs and smoking. While half of the teenagers surveyed reported being out on a school night, only 14% of parents reported being aware that their teenager was out. If you are concerned that your teenager is abusing prescription medications or other substances, don’t hesitate. Contact us today.
Click here to contact us for Adolescent Prescription Drug Abuse
The Associated Press, on May 6, 2009 reported that New Jersey has passed legislation that would give immunity to underage drinkers when seeking emergency help for their intoxicated friend or for themselves. Lawmakers hope that this immunity will encourage scared teens to help their friends in an emergency rather than hesitate and risk their friend’s life.
I think that this is an excellent move, something that New Mexico has already implemented and that eight states are considering. I believe that the fear of penalization keeps most teen addicts from asking for help.Fear of getting in trouble was my number one reason for never seeking help for my own drinking and substance abuse. I am lucky that I am alive. My using “friends” once told me that one night, after using, I went into an unconscious state. Rather than seek medical help, they left me in someone’s bedroom. When I came to, over 24 hours had passed. At the time, I was glad that they didn’t call for help; I would have been in so much trouble. Now looking back, I am horrified that my friends left me unconscious for over 24 hours and I am lucky I survived! Fear of getting in trouble kept me from asking for help as my addiction escalated. I thought that my parents would be so mad at me, but I have since learned that a lot of times fear is manifested as anger. It was a difficult conversation, having to come clean to my parents, but it was the best decision I ever made. It just kind of blurted out, without me meaning to say it, but as soon as I did, I felt relieved. I felt like I was safe from my brain that was trying to make me use even though I didn’t want to. As soon as my secret was out, it began to lose its grip on me. My parents helped me find a safe place to recover in adolescent residential treatment. I hope that more options are provided to teens so that they can safely voice their secrets without fear of penalization. I know more teens would seek help if that were the case. I am so glad there was someone there to help me when I finally asked for help.
Need help with under age drinking
Today, instead of dreading time with my family, I enjoy it. Mother’s Day is now a time when I can be proud to be my mother’s child, and not feel full of shame and self-loathing and guilt. It has taken a long time to rebuild my relationship with my mother, but the work has paid off. My mother and I used to butt heads over everything: where I was going, who I was with, what I was wearing…I was awful to her. I treated her with no respect and kept her lying awake at night wondering where I was and if I was alive.
In treatment, I had an opportunity to work on my relationship with my mother. I found that I couldn’t tell her how I was changing; I had to show her. In treatment, counselors worked with my mother and me both individually and together to help us rebuild the relationship that drugs and alcohol destroyed. It took a long time for her to trust me again, and she had little reason to. Even today, if I am slow calling her back, she gets worried. This used to frustrated me, but now I realize how much I used to scare her by disappearing. Every day that I stay clean and sober, I am building that trust back a little more and a little more. I am so glad that I don’t have to put my mother through the things I used to put her through. This Mother’s Day, the best thing I can give my mom is my sobriety.
