To those of us working in youth substance abuse treatment, this is no surprise as for some time, marijuana has been the primary drug of kids in drug treatment.
I bring this to your attention because marijuana use in teens can be a predictor of other drug use and risky behaviors. With summer just around the corner, it’s an important time to have a talk with kids about the dangers and risks of substance use.
The legalization debate has created a lot of confusion and discussion in families about the safety of marijuana. While you may not feel that occasional marijuana or alcohol use is dangerous, smoking heavily during adolescence has serious repercussions in children. It is a fact that teens’ brains are still developing, so they are more easily harmed by drugs and alcohol.
We know that adolescents who use substances before the age of 18, are more likely to develop an addiction as an adult — the younger the age, the higher the likelihood. Those who start using before age 14 have a 50 percent chance of becoming addicts as adults.
And we know that some teens are more vulnerable to drug and alcohol addiction than others — specifically, teens who have a family history of substance abuse or who suffer from mental health issues. For these teens, prevention is even more important, as recreational or experimental use more easily results in addiction.
We also know the crucial role parents, and other adults, play in influencing teens to live drug-free lives. Following are some tips from The Partnership at Drugfree.org on steps parents can take to ensure their kids have a drug-free summer, and life.
• Build a warm and supportive relationship with your child.
• Be a good role model when it comes to drinking, taking medicine and handling stress.
• Know your child’s risk level — emotional hurts, family history and mental health issue make kids more vulnerable.
• Know your child’s friends.
• Monitor, supervise, and set clear boundaries and consequences.
• Have ongoing conversations and provide information about drugs and alcohol. Sometimes a movie, or a story in the news, can present opportunities to talk about substance use.
I also recommend that parents get their kids involved in summer activities. Help them find a paying job, do some volunteer work, or enroll children in age-appropriate summer activity camps. For teens, there are some great options in music, sports and career-related skills camps.
If you suspect a child is using, call a treatment provider. Places like Youth Eastside Services (YES) offer youth-specific assessments that can help you know about what emotional and substance use issues your child may be facing.
If you need help talking to your child about drugs, especially in the age of legalization, YES is offering a parent education class on Wednesday, June 27 from 6:30-7:30 p.m..
Patti Skelton-McGougan is executive director of Youth Eastside Services. For more information, call 425-747-4937 or go to www.youtheastsideservices.org.
