When children start to grow up and hit the teenage years, parents usually find themselves asking, “why do teens do drugs?”
The answer to this common question is simple. The teenage years are full of emotional and physical changes. These changes bring challenges that sometimes impact both the self-confidence and motivation of young people.
Why Do Teens Do Drugs?
Though drug use among teens has dropped slightly in recent years, it’s still a problem that many parents face. For many teens, the pressure to excel as a student, child, friend, and athlete can become overwhelming. Some turn to drugs or alcohol as a way of coping with the heavy weight of these responsibilities.
Family issues or problems at home can drive a teen to try to find other coping strategies. However, one of the most common reasons that teens abuse drugs or alcohol is because they need to feel accepted by their peers. Low-self esteem and difficulty dealing with emotions can also lead down the path of drug or alcohol use. What it all comes down to is that being a teenager is hard.
What Are the Warning Signs?
It’s important to know the warning signs so that you’re prepared if you suspect that your teen is experimenting with drugs or alcohol.
Some physical warning signs of drug or alcohol use include:
- Bloodshot eyes or unusually small/large pupils
- Changes to appetite or sleep patterns
- Sudden, unexplained weight loss or weight gain
- Frequent nose bleeds that could be related to snorting drugs like cocaine and meth
- Unusual smells on breath, clothes, and body
- Neglecting personal grooming
- Seizures with no prior history of epilepsy
- Decreased coordination
- Slurred or incoherent speech
- Shakes or tremors
- Appearing generally unstable or impaired
Behavioral signs include:
- Issues at school
- Loss of interest in extracurricular activities, sports and other hobbies
- Complaints from teachers, friends, or co-workers
- Sudden need for more privacy
- Avoiding eye contact, and acting withdrawn, isolated, silent or suspicious
- Sudden changes in personal relationships, friends, hangout spots, etc.
- Using perfume, incense, air freshener, etc., to disguise the smell of drugs
Professional Rehab Can Help
If your teen is struggling with drug use, Pinnacle Peak Recovery in Scottsdale, Arizona, can help them get clean and overcome their addiction with an evidence-based, dual diagnosis approach to treatment. Our dedicated team of physicians, psychologists, and other medical professionals will treat your child with compassionate care while overseeing their progress round the clock in our state-of-the-art medical facility.
At Pinnacle Peak Recovery, we treat addictions to alcohol, meth, cocaine, heroin and other opiates to give your teen what they need to overcome a dangerous drug abuse problem. We offer inpatient and outpatient treatment, extended care and transitional living.
Contact Us Today
Regardless of the answer to “why do teens do drugs,” if your teen is experiencing problems due to drug use, it’s time to take action. Our medical professionals at Pinnacle Peak Recovery in Scottsdale, Arizona, are experienced and prepared to help your teen through every step of the recovery process, for example with teen counseling. During their time at our facility, we will also teach them positive coping skills for dealing with life’s many pressures. Take action to preserve your child’s future by calling us today at 866-377-4761.