When you are the parent of a teenager, there are many issues that likely keep you up at night with worry. However, if you have a high-achieving teen who is focused on academics, college, and good grades above all else, you may think that you have room to relax as you may believe that many of the issues that plague other teens will not affect your child. The fact of the matter is, though, that even the most "clean-cut" teens can fall victim to drug abuse and addiction. Stimulant addiction is a common problem among teens and adults alike and can have a serious effect upon your child if they are so-affected. Get to know more about stimulant addiction in teens and the substance abuse treatment options that can help them overcome it.
What Stimulants Do Teens Become Addicted To?
In today's world where pressures are higher on teens than ever to maintain good grades, get into college, participate in activities, and have a social life, many teens turn to artificial sources for energy and stamina. Caffeine is the most seemingly innocuous stimulant that teens may become dependent on. Coffee, sodas, and energy drinks can become a staple in your child's diet and can cause them to suffer from sleep disturbances, fatigue, and caffeine crashes when they cannot get caffeine as quickly as they may feel they need it.
While dependence on caffeine can be a problem, the more pressing issues are addictions to prescription and illicit stimulants. The recreational use of Adderall, a drug commonly prescribed for ADHD, for example has become an increasing problem. Adderall has the effect of increasing energy as well as focus and concentration. Many teens become addicted to this drug when they begin to take it to keep up with studying, to cram for tests, or to have the energy to socialize as well as participate in activities and studying.
Adderall is just one of many stimulants that teens may turn to for energy. Cocaine, speed, and even crystal meth can have similar energizing effects and may be purchased illegally by teens looking to increase their energy for various reasons.
What Are The Treatment Options For Stimulant Addictions?
If you find that your child is using stimulants in this abusive way, you may wonder what you can do to help them overcome their substance abuse problem. The first step is to get them into a detox program. Detox is the process of getting an addicted substance out of your child's system and helping them get through the withdrawals that will occur as a result. A professional substance abuse treatment center will ensure that your child does not relapse while detoxing and that they are safe in doing so.
The next step will be to get your teen treatment to help address both the physical and mental/emotional causes of their addiction. Treatment can occur in either an inpatient (residential) or outpatient setting. For most teens, outpatient treatments and therapies may be the best option so that they do not fall behind in school. There are different types of treatment programs for substance abuse. However, most include individual and group therapy sessions as the core treatments. Additional options like family therapy, art therapy, and meditation or other relaxation techniques and hypnotherapy may be available through different treatment centers.
Now that you know more about stimulant addiction in teens and the treatment options available, you can better handle the situation if it happens to your child.
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