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8 Effective Ways To Determine The Risk Factors Of Teen Substance Abuse

There are many things to examine to determine if a teen may be likely to turn to become a substance abuser, including the following: whether the teen's parents are also abusers, whether the teen's parents are in his or her life, if there are issues or problems in the teen's home life, if the teen suffers from peer pressure or has an untreated illness or disease, and whether there are personal characteristics that may cause the teen to turn to substance abuse.

Author: Danica Reynes
Date: Jan 3, 2011 - 1:41:10 AM

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When determining risk factors for drug abuse, teens should look at family history with drugs, consider any problems at home, mental illnesses and peer pressure factors.

Substance abuse includes using alcohol, illicit drugs, and other substances often that can also harm a teen's health and future. The only way to help a teenager who is drinking and drugging is to get to the root of what set them off in the first place. This is a list that will determine the amount of risk associated with teen substance abuse:

Determine if the parents also struggle with substance abuse

Parental substance abuse, regardless whether it is both parents or just one, is a good indication that teenager is going to start abusing drugs and or alcohol as well. When parents abuse alcohol or drugs, there is a greater chance that their teen will also struggle with substance abuse. Since the teen's parents have a positive approach towards using such substances, the teen will think there is not much risk associated with abusing alcohol or drugs. If a teenager's parents abuse them, then the teenager will mirror the same actions towards other people.

Find out if the adolescent is missing instruction from their parents

It is easier for the teen to leave the home and use different substances, when parents do not actively monitor or are careless regarding their teen's whereabouts. The risk of substance abuse is greater among teens who lack parental attachment compared to teens who are constantly with their family or those who are being sufficiently monitored by their parents.

Home is the place in which you can learn about the teen's problems

Teens who do not know how to handle problems at home tend to escape reality and bitterness by getting involved in drugs or alcohol. If you identify difficult problems at the teen's home, such as divorcing parents, a constantly nagging mother, or an alcoholic father, then the risk for teen substance abuse is higher.

Question the teenager to see if they are being pressured by friends to do something

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. Significant reasons for drug use among teens are peer pressure and a desire to be accepted.

Look into the neighborhood where the teen lives

It is also an important determining factor, the neighborhood in which the teen lives. In places where alcohol and illicit drugs are rampant, the chance for substance abuse is also high.

You may need to probe a bit in order to learn whether the teenager has been the victim of abusive treatment

Alcohol or drug use are often used as an escape for a teen who has suffered abuse, either emotional, physical or psychological. In order to determine the likelihood of substance abuse find out if the teen has been abused in any way at home or in school or by his friends.

It is important to learn whether an adolescent is dealing with any ongoing health issues, particularly anything that is life-threatening

A child in poor health has a much greater chance of abusing substances than one who is not. He could turn to alcohol or drugs due to depression. Because of their hopeless condition, teens may think it does not matter whatever they do with their lives, in such situations.

Looks for traits that are likely to cause addiction

A teenager's demeanor can many times let you figure out if they are abusing alcohol or drugs. Having an extremely disobedient and rebellious character can be a risk factor, as well as an extremely insecure personality.

Into substance abuse, any teen can get into. You have to learn more about his family, his friends, his personality, and also his condition to help find the risk of substance abuse. 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.

View all articles by Danica Reynes

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