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How Fast Can and/or Will Your Teen Become An Addict?

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Addiction is a common side effect of teen drug use. Teen drug addiction is a disorder that occurs as  a troubled teen uses drugs, causing changes in the chemical makeup of their brain. Teen drug addiction is characterized by compulsive and sometimes uncontrollable cravings for one or many drugs, even when using the drug has serious physical, emotional, and social consequences. In many troubled teens, drug addiction becomes chronic, lasting throughout their lives. Some troubled teens can become addicted to a drug the first time they use it, while others may be able to use the drug several times before becoming addicted. There is no way to determine how long it will take for a troubled teen to become addicted to a drug, but the younger a teen is when he or she first uses drugs, the more likely he or she is to become addicted to drugs.

Frequently family members think that their teen may not have an alcohol or drug problem. Another issue may be, how could this have happened to our family? We are good parents and love our children. There is no single answer for parents that struggle with a troubled teenage addict. Drugs and alcohol kill the pain of an ordinary mundane life. They destroy the physical and emotional pain by changing the addict’s perception of reality. Drugs and alcohol make the drug addict or alcoholic numb to the pain, unhappiness, or hopelessness that their life has become.

Treatment for Teenage Drug Addiction

Parents should be aware of common drugs and the effects they can have on the developing minds of troubled teens and talk to their teens about why they should not use drugs. Parents should watch for the symptoms of drug use, such as withdrawal, sudden and extreme changes in personality, appearance, activities, school performance, or friends, and lying and stealing. If your troubled teen has these symptoms, parents should talk to them about their concerns and consider taking the teen to a professional for evaluation and treatment.

Our professionals at Therapy Insider specialize in the placement or troubled teens into treatment facilities that suit the needs of the issues at hand.