Seeing your teen develop a drug habit is devastating for any parent. As a parent, it’s likely that you will wonder why they are struggling. There are many reasons why your teen would dabble in drug abuse. If your teen is abusing drugs, it’s worth remembering that there is help out there. Learn more about some of the reasons why your teen might turn to drug use as well as the available treatments for troubled teens in Canada.
Signs of Drug Abuse
In recent years, teen drug abuse has been on the rise worldwide. It can be hard to spot the signs of drug abuse, as they tend to match normal teen behaviour, such as being more secretive and mood swings. Some of the warning signs of drug abuse include:
- Borrowing money
- A change in friends
- Drug paraphernalia around the house
- Increased use of incense or perfume to mask smells
- Use of eye drops or breath mints
- Items missing from your medicine cabinet
It’s one thing to know the signs, but what are the reasons why a teen might turn to drugs or alcohol? Often, teens find they can’t deal with negative emotions or peer pressure anymore, and instead of discussing it with you, they try to escape from their problems with drugs. Once your teen experiences relief from their problems, they will use the same solution again. Coupled with the biologically addictive factors of drugs, this leads to regular drug use.
Another reason for teen drug use is peer pressure. If one of their friends gets into drugs, they may be tempted to try it themself. They will also have easy access to a substance if it’s in their friend’s pocket. When teens make new friends, they can find themselves socializing with a group of people with an existing drug habit.
Teens may also use drugs to improve their performance. Whether that’s academically, or in sport, there are many substances (whether legal or not), that claim to improve concentration or athletic prowess. Teens experience a lot of pressure to be the best at everything they do, and this can cause teen drug abuse.
Drug Abuse Treatment
The best treatment for drug and alcohol problems is a residential drug addiction treatment program. The benefits of this type of program are numerous. Your teen will be immediately denied access to drugs and will be taken through a successful program of therapy, activities, and education. They will get the opportunity to meet new friends, and they will be surrounded by the best doctors, teachers, and therapists in Canada.
Any high-quality drug abuse treatment will tackle both the destructive behaviours and the reasons why drugs are being used. For instance, if your teen’s drug use is caused by a desire to perform better at sports, therapists will help your teen work through this and teach them new ways of approaching life.
Drug and Alcohol Treatment at Venture Academy
At Venture Academy, we run various teen treatment programs, including a drug addiction treatment program. Our programs include:
- 30-day assessment and intervention
- Behavioural treatment
- Drug and alcohol treatment
- School programs and education
- Electronic addiction treatment
All our treatment programs are customized to the individual. In other words, we look at the causes and effects of destructive behaviours and design a plan to help manage them. Our focus on education ensures that your teen will not fall behind on their academics during their time with us. We believe in education as a way forward, and our teachers are uniquely qualified to work with troubled teens.
We understand how distressing it is to see your teen using drugs. To get help for your teen’s drug abuse, call Venture Academy at 866.762.2211.
