Substance abuse

The consumption of alcohol and drugs usually begins in adolescence and is usually associated with the enjoyment of leisure and social relationships, focusing on weekends or festive periods. Certain characteristics of this adolescent stage can facilitate habitual substance use, but if it becomes abusive it can interfere with the adolescent's healthy development. The first and most widely used substances are usually alcohol and tobacco, followed by cannabis, tranquilizers, cocaine, amphetamines, ecstasy and other hallucinogens.

But not all drug use carries the same degree of risk. Thus, there are different forms of consumption: use, abuse and dependence.

The process of dependence on one or more substances takes a certain time and goes through different phases in which the frequency, quantity and forms of consumption vary. Most of the time, the initiation of use does not lead to dependence. It is important, however, to be attentive to certain signs, because if it is possible to act when the adolescent is in the phase of abuse, but not yet dependency, the intervention will be easier.

What are the main reasons why a teenager uses?

• Some of the most important causes are the positive consequences that adolescents associate with the consumption of alcohol and drugs, such as joy, pleasure, euphoria, positive mood, fun, etc.
• Usually, alcohol and drugs are used as a method to overcome shyness, shame, insecurity and lack of social skills, seeking disinhibition, integration into the group and the enhancement of social relationships. Adolescents use to feel capable of taking the first steps to start a romantic relationship and also face other new situations for which they may not feel ready.
• The consumption in this segment of the population is justified by an imitation of a frequent pattern in the adult population. At the same time, adolescents are immersed in a culture in which alcohol is socially well accepted and in which it is usually consumed on a wide variety of occasions: parties, celebrations, fun, etc.
• Another habit of using this type of substance is to escape routine, daily problems or bad times.
• Adolescents use consumption as a means of affirming and expressing their identity and showing that they have left childhood behind.
• To get out of states of apathy or general lack of interest, the consumption of drugs or alcohol can be perceived as something stimulating and a way to experience new sensations.

What other family, school and social factors influence consumption?

• The availability and accessibility of substances.
• The social approval of legal drugs, such as alcohol.
• Advertising, with advertisements that associate the drink with values ​​and attractive stimuli for adolescents such as friendship, character, sex, risk or adventure.
• Inappropriate education styles in families, with ambiguous or overprotective norms, lack of recognition or excessive rigidity.
• Lack of communication and conflictive family climate, which can lead to deficiencies or suffering that adolescents try to compensate through consumption.
• Influence of the group of friends, which increases the probabilities of consuming if the adolescent is integrated into a group in which they consume.
• Lack of information or misinformation about the negative consequences associated with alcohol and drug abuse.

How can you tell if your child is abusing alcohol and / or drugs?

Above all, it is important to bear in mind that the assessment and diagnosis of consumption must always be carried out by a mental health professional, ruling out in advance with a doctor the existence of any organic cause that explains the symptoms detected. Here are some signs that may indicate alcohol and / or drug use. Many of these signs can be symptoms of problems or difficulties other than drinking:

• Fatigue, tiredness and frequent complaints about health.
• Red eyes and / or dilated pupils.
• Constant cough
• Sudden changes in mood, with frequent episodes of irritability.
• Defensive and defiant attitude.
• Persistent insomnia or drowsiness.
• Tendency to adopt risky behaviors.
• Depressive symptoms, discouragement, apathy or disinterest.
• Lack of communication.
• Tendency to be absent and unfocused.
• Problems at school, due to poor performance or conflictive relationships with classmates or teachers.

How to act in this situation?

Both in prevention and in addressing the problem, it is important not to consider young people in isolation from the social context in which they operate, acting from all spheres of influence such as family, school, institutions and society.

Information is a fundamental tool in the prevention of drug use. It is important to talk with your children about this topic and about many others that may present themselves at different times. If open dialogue and the possibility of expressing doubts, and consulting different topics, has not been established from the beginning in the family dynamics, the attempts by parents to directly address the issue of consumption will hardly be successful, being limited to interrogations in which the adolescent may not cooperate.

Parents' attitude should be supportive and willing to listen to their child, try to understand him and put himself in his place, taking into account their opinions and experiences. If you adopt an attitude with which you intend to judge or impose strict and inflexible certain ideas or behaviors, as well as if you criticize or ridicule, you will be hindering communication with the adolescent boy.

It is important, at the same time, to facilitate their participation in activities that allow them to build new relationships and that help them feel that they belong to certain groups and associations.

From childhood, parents should encourage the development of social skills, to help them gain personal security and self-esteem, as well as the ability to express and defend their opinions and to resist peer pressure.

In case of evidence of alcohol and / or drug abuse, it is essential to obtain recognition from the adolescent, taking into account that at first they may deny it or show resistance to accept it. Once the consumption by the young person has been recognized, it is important not to show attitudes of defeat, helplessness or failure in the face of the problem, but rather of energy and the possibility of approaching, as long as certain conditions of collaboration are met by the adolescent.

The family nucleus must manage norms and limits, establishing conditions for coexistence, maintaining firm positions and rejection of consumption and not giving in to manipulation attempts by the child who uses.

Above all, in a case of alcohol and / or drug abuse detection, a mental health professional should be consulted, in order to initiate the most appropriate treatment for each specific situation, and at the same time support and guide the family .