Teen Drug Use: Heroin Addicts Starting Younger and Can Start with Marijuana

Parents in denial.  Teens and heroin, a deadly combination. Dealers making it easier to smoke, cheaper to purchase, and more potent to be an addict faster.  Heroin is dangerous and deadly and it is a growing concern and trend today.  20/20 ABC News featured an excellent report on this topic.  The New Face of a Heroin Addict, which followed the lives of three average all-Americanfamilies and their addict. (Watch segment on sidebar).Since 2007, the number of heroin users in the U.S. has nearly doubled, and half of all first-time users are younger than 26 years old, according to theSubstance Abuse × Abuse
Abuse /a·buse/ Abuse is defined as the improper usage or treatment of an entity, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices: crimes or other types of aggression. Abuse is a negative and real threat that many people face. Child abuse is a problem that is continually occurring. The main types of child abuse are physical abuse, sexual abuse, and neglecting. When these types of abuse occur in a home, they often go unnoticed. The stress and fear of the abuse will usually cause the victim to remain quite about the problem. It is a difficult problem to find out and assess, but there are solutions. It is important that people are aware of signs of abuse. They may include unexplained injuries, changes in behavior, fear of going home, changes in eating and sleeping and lack of personal care or hygiene.
and Mental Health × Mental health
Mental health is “a state of well-being in which the individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.”1 It is estimated that only about 17% of U.S adults are considered to be in a state of optimal mental health. The mental health in teenage boys and girls is a crucial issue and concern for parents. Teens, for a variety of reasons, tend to struggle with mental health more than adults or children who have not yet reached their teens. This is because of the turbulent time that comes with adolescence and the individual teen's inability to cope with said turbulence. Parents of troubled teens who struggle with mental health issues, actually have a plethora of treatment options to choose from. The type of treatment option that best fits the individual teen, greatly depends on the individual teens mental health issues.
Services Administration. This 20/20 ABC News segment should be an episode that every parent with a young teen should stop and watch.  It clearly shows that no one is immune to becoming an addict – especially a heroin addict. Parents that belive their teen is “only smoking pot,” listen to these stories – most start out that way.As the one addict explains, she was quickly addicted after only a very short time.  She thought she was smoking hash, that ended up being heroin, which is highly addictive in comparison to hash.  So this mistake has literally created a junkie. Look for signs of drug use:Violent outbursts, disrespectful behaviorPoor or dropping gradesUnexplained weight loss or gainSkin abrasions, track marksMissing curfew, running away, truancyBloodshot eyes, distinct “skunky” odor on clothing and skinMissing jewelry moneyNew friendsDepression, apathy, withdrawalReckless behaviorDo you suspect your teen is using drugs?  Don’t be a parent in denial – you are only prolonging your teen getting help and you are actually enabling them to continue this deadly behavior. When you think, not my kid, think again.  Addiction × Addiction
The American Society of Addiction Medicine defines addiction as "Addiction is characterized by inability to consistently abstain, impairment in behavioral control, craving, diminished recognition of significant problems with one’s behaviors and interpersonal relationships, and a dysfunctional emotional response." Similar to other chronic diseases, addiction may involve cycles of relapse and a mental state of remission. If untreated, or serious attempts of recovery, the progression of addiction can easily result in dire, sometimes fatal, consequences. Addiction can take many forms, from eating disorders to drug addiction and even gambling. Whatever the affliction, or choice of addiction, the teenage psyche and overall well being is at greater risk than that of a fully developed adult. Teens who don't receive adequate rehabilitation for their addiction are almost certain to carry their addictive qualities into adulthood. Parents of a teenage boy or girl suffering from addiction should seek viable treatment options immediately before the addiction progresses further.
can happen to anyone – no matter what their background is or their economic status, addiction kills. If you are concerned your teen is using drugs, be a responsible parent.  If they are under the age of 18 years-old, you can legally get them help without their consent.  Once they are 18 years-old or older, they have to be at a point they want to get help. Residential therapy × Therapy
n.noun ther·a·py Therapy is a treatment intended to relieve or heal a disorder or disease. Therapy generally consists of two kinds: medical and psychotherapy. Medical therapies treat diseases of the human body such as cancer. Psychotherapies treat the mind of therapeutically or emotionally damaged individuals. Different Types of Psychotherapy: - Psychoanalytic Therapy - Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy - Group Therapy - Behavior modification - Biofeedback - Collaborative therapy - Family therapy - Marriage counseling - Music therapy - Parent management training - Relationship counseling - Social Therapy - Systemic therapy - Therapeutic community - Twelve-step programs - Wilderness therapy Therapy for troubled teens has become an increasingly popular opportunity for troubled adolescents today. Therapies are offered at many services for troubled teens such as, wilderness therapy programs, residential treatment programs and boarding schools for troubled youth. The most effective type of therapy greatly depends on the individual teen and what psychological and emotional issues the particular adolescent struggles with.
is a booming business for many desperate parents seeking help for their at-risk teens, especially when they are at their wit’s end. Take the time to do your research – visit Parents’ Universal Resource Experts, Inc.  This organization helps educate and guide parents to find safe and quality schools and programs. They are a long standing member of theBetter Business Bureau. Stop making excuses and start be a proactive parent.