Lest We Lose Our Children

“Believe you can, and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt Recently, a case came up before me in which the parents were concerned whether their 17 year old child is using drugs. Generally, this child has been rebellious and stubborn. As he grew older, his aggressive nature started to show, particularly with cruel behaviour towards younger siblings. Recently, he went as far as cutting off the tail of the family dog. When the issue was discussed, the child denied using drugs and challenged the parents to conduct a drug test. There was a small twist in the situation that neither the parents nor the child were aware of: drug usage can show up in tests even after a few days. The tests revealed that the child was indeed using cannabis. Further discussions revealed the use of other substances as well.

Factors Contributing to Drug Use

Peer Pressure: Teenagers often spend most of their time with peers, which lead to pressure to conform. Adolescents might feel compelled to use drugs to gain social status or to become a hero among their peers.

Stress and Mental Health Issues: Children often feel bogged down by academic pressure and other personal challenges. It has been proven that such children are more likely to turn to drugs as a coping mechanism.

Curiosity and the Desire for Excitement: Adolescence is a period of mental development, and the growing brain leads teens to explore new experiences. The one-time use out of curiosity may quickly escalate to addiction.

Family Influence: In some households, alcohol use has become normalised. Children growing up in such environments may believe that drug use is an accepted part of life.

Availability of Drugs: Studies show that when drugs are easily accessible, the likelihood of adolescents using them increases. Reports from global organisations such as the United Nations have shown that drug mafias use social media to spread drugs and this reality has reached our adolescents as well.

Lack of Awareness: Adolescents often do not fully understand the dangers and long-term consequences of drug use. This ignorance contributes to the onset of addiction. The most unfortunate aspect is that the educational curriculum does not address this serious issue adequately.

Strategies to Prevent Addiction

To manage addiction among adolescents, a multifaceted approach that includes resistance strategies, timely and effective intervention and treatment is essential.

Preventive Strategies

Education and Awareness: Global efforts to combat drug addiction have heavily relied on awareness campaigns on the physical and mental problems caused by alcohol and drug use. Awareness campaigns should also address other addictive behaviours like excessive gaming or social media use.

Parental Involvement: Teenagers spend a lot of time with their peers, but open communication at home is crucial. Parents should guide children on how to assertively say “no” to situations that may encourage drug use. Family discussions on how to deal with pressures and health-related issues are essential.

School-Based Programmes: There should be discussions in classrooms on how drug use affects the brain and its subsequent impact on cognitive abilities, learning and social relationships.

Early Identification and Intervention

Recognising Behavioural Changes: Changes in behaviour, withdrawal from family or social circles, declining academic performance or mood swings may indicate drug use. Parents should be observant of such signs, and should address these concerns promptly.

Testing and Intervention: When signs of drug use are detected, it’s crucial to discuss the negative impacts with the child. If necessary, mental health professionals should intervene to support the child. Parental support during this phase is essential.

Treatment and Follow-up

Addiction Counselling: Misconceptions about addiction medications being harmful need to be addressed because anti-drug medications are effective and safe. Unfortunately, misconceptions in society often prevent parents from seeking treatment, which is a grave injustice to the child.

Family Therapy: Family involvement is crucial in reintegrating an adolescent back into society. Blaming or punishing them won’t help, but supportive and loving intervention will foster hope and encourage long-term recovery.

Healthier Alternatives: After treatment, adolescents should be encouraged to engage in sports, music, art or volunteer work. These activities serve as excellent substitutes for drug use, helping the adolescent build social connections and reducing the likelihood of returning to addiction.

Long-Term Support

Long-term support is crucial to ensure that they do not relapse into drug use. If any signs of relapse appear, the child should not be punished but encouraged to seek further help.

Stress Management: Long-term care should also include stress management techniques to help the adolescent cope with pressures that might otherwise lead them back to substance use.

Monitoring and Accountability: After treatment, ensuring they understand the importance of a drug-free future and remaining accountable will help them avoid relapse.

Addressing adolescent drug addiction requires a collaborative effort involving family, schools and healthcare professionals. Prevention, early intervention, effective treatment and long-term support are all essential in breaking the cycle of addiction. Only through a comprehensive approach can we protect our youth from the devastating consequences of substance abuse.