Teenage Drugs and Alcohol
Studies show that there are 2 MILLION children out there that are in need of treatment for substance abuse issues so if you are a parent dealing with this issues don’t be embarrassed or feel like you are alone in this. Although the side effects are usually short term, it is still important for parents to note that drugs and alcohol can have long term effects on your teen.
Teenage Drugs and Alcohol
Long-term consequences of drug use include:
• Death (vehicular accidents, possibility of overdosing, suicide, criminal activity, etc) o Underage drinking is a factor in 4,358 deaths involving people younger than 21 each year
• A decline in your teens grades at school
• Abnormal health issues begin to exist
• Changes in your teen’s relationships with their normal friends
• Altered relationships with family members
• Issues with law enforcement • More absences and tardiness in school
• Your teen starts to showcase a learning curve in school
• Your teen begins to get in trouble at school for misconduct
• New friends outside of his/her normal friendship type start to become regular
• Variation in a teen’s period cycle (young ladies)
• Has lost all care in regards to their daily appearance
Teenage Drugs and Alcohol
Scenarios to consider if your teen is caught with drugs
Drugs and alcohol can be very damaging for the future of your teen especially if the issue is discovered by others before or other than you.
High schools and middle schools are able to do random drug screens on students in extracurricular activities. It is also common for schools to conduct random car and locker checks for drugs with drug dogs and law enforcement officers. Your teen can be suspended, expelled, removed from extracurricular activities, and possibly placed in alternative school programs. With such an occurrence, you may find yourself in a situation that involves Law Enforcement depending on how the school decides to handle the situation.
If the Police become involved at the school or otherwise your teen could easily be charged with juvenile possession. This charge isn’t just for standard drugs and alcohol but also for prescription drugs that are not prescribed to the teen. Having any charge on a teen’s background can totally alter their future by closing them off from being able to pursue certain professional lanes. The long-term effects from such an occurrence can be catastrophic.
Coach T is available for teens and parents who are battling with teen drug abuse or think they are suffering from addiction. If you'd like to discuss this issue with Coach T, feel free to get in touch with Youth Empowerment Life Coaching. He would be more than happy to talk with you over the phone if you think that might be helpful. You can contact him for a free consultation Monday through Sunday between 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. at 713-256-6922 or via email at CoachT@youthempowermentcoaching.com. He’ll be delighted to assist you in any way possible.