According to a new study by the US National Institute on Drug Abuse, teens have the highest risk of drug addiction, higher than adults.
Many factors contribute to the increase in drug and substance testing behavior in teens and adolescents such as peer pressure, curiosity, wanting to experience something interesting, stress, or being unhappy in life, etc. Whatever the reason, parents need to be extra cautious when their kids are this age, as research has shown that teens are more prone to addiction.
Why teens are more prone to addiction?
The new report, published in the expert-reviewed pediatric journal JAMA, adds to the evidence that teens are more susceptible to teen drug abuse disorders than young adults.
According to Dr. Emily Einstein, co-author of the study and head of NIDA’s Science Policy Branch, research has shown that brain development continues into a person’s 20s, and that age at which begins drug use is a very important risk factor for users to develop an addiction.
While not everyone who uses drugs will become addicted, teenagers may develop addiction faster than adults, in other words, your child is more likely to develop a substance use disorder.
Researchers at NIDA, a division of the National Institutes of Health, analyzed data from nationally representative National Surveys of Drug Use and Health conducted by the Health Service. Mental Health and Substance Abuse from 2015 to 2018.
They found that 10.7% of 12 to 17-year-olds had a marijuana use disorder, compared with 6.4% of 18 to 25-year-olds.
Research also shows that teens are more likely to become addicted to the drug within 12 months:
- 11.2% of teens are addicted to prescription opioids, compared with 6.9% of young adults
- 13.9% of adolescents are addicted to prescription stimulants, compared with 3.9% of young adults
- 11.2% of adolescents are addicted to prescription tranquilizers, compared with 4.7% of young adults
- Alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco continue to be the most commonly used stimulants by teenagers.
- One-third of young adults develop a heroin use disorder and one-quarter become addicted to methamphetamine within a year of trying the drug for the first time.
About teenage drug use, Parents often mistakenly believe that it is okay to try alcohol and drugs a few times, but do not know that young children believe that the more teenagers are prone to drinking alcohol, using marijuana, and using drugs prescription, the greater the risk of addiction.
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What should parents do to minimize the risks their teens use drugs?
Stimulant and substance use by teens can lead to long-term consequences. Your child rarely thinks they’ll have substance use problems, so it’s important to start talking about these topics with your child earlier and continue to discuss them. Remind your child from time to time.
Here are some ways that parents can apply to better protect their children:
- Ask your child’s perspective on drugs: Instead of preaching, listen to your child’s opinions and questions about drugs. If you suspect your child has used drugs, try asking questions openly and curiously as your child will be more comfortable sharing without feeling judged.
- Discuss openly reasons not to use drugs together: Instead of making threats, emphasize how teenage drug use can affect the brains, normal physical and mental development – the things that are important to your child.
- Intimate conversations with your child about drugs: Explain to your child how they affect them and keep a friendly, non-judgmental attitude.
Why should you be intimate? These things your child can fully access at school in theory, but they are often inherently dry, so, as a friend, show your child your intimacy and friendliness. Build an intimate sharing environment between children and parents, talk to your child about stimulants and drugs like two friends, children are both more receptive and trusting in you.
- Discuss ways to resist peer pressure: Explain to your child why he or she is easily influenced by peers at this time, how to distinguish what should and should not be done, and like showing your child how to tactfully decline an invitation to use drugs.
- Pay attention to what your child watches: Social media, TV shows, movies, and songs can fascinate or trivialize substance use. Have an active discussion about what your child sees and hears on TV and social media.
- Use online content filtering tools
However, education from school and family only plays a part, as a teenager, your child will feel very curious about everything around him. As a result, there will be a higher risk of experiencing something they’re curious about.
That’s is a reason why you need to protect your kids by using content filtering tools like
Moreover, it is also inevitable that your child’s friends will urge you to try it out, so you also need to protect your child “behind the scenes” by using an online content filter to notify you when your child is searching information about marijuana, drugs, stimulants, etc. to help you detect timely, prevent unpredictable consequences later.
In addition, this content filtering tool also filters and hides harmful content on whatever browser your child uses. Such as:
- Pornography
- Horror content like gore, accident, ghost, violence, murder, terrorism, etc.
- Content about stimulants, addictive substances such as alcohol, beer, marijuana, drugs, etc.
- Content with aggressive elements, hurting others like Hate speech
The special thing is that this extension is completely free and you can easily download them as a browser add-on.
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