No one is immune to the risks associated with drugs and alcohol. Kids may come into contact with drugs sooner than you expect, so it’s almost never too soon to begin talking about the dangers of drugs and addiction. By laying a strong foundation of understanding, you’ll position your child to have the tools needed to make healthy choices. Talking to your teens about drugs should be an ongoing process that also involves you listening to your child’s concerns.
Marijuana
Although marijuana has been legalized in several states for people over 21 to use, the use of marijuana still has some risks. Use of marijuana can cause issues with the developing brain. People can experience problems with learning, memory, and sleep. Marijuana is also associated with increased paranoia, depression, and anxiety. Excessive use of marijuana can lead to injuries as well.
- Medical Marijuana
- The Effects of Marijuana on Your Body
- The Facts About Recreational Marijuana
- Overview of Marijuana
- The Effects of Marijuana
Cocaine
Cocaine is a stimulant that affects the nervous system. In powder form, cocaine might be inhaled. In liquid form, cocaine can be injected. After using cocaine, euphoria, empowerment, alertness, and talkativeness are common. While high on cocaine, people might also feel restless and sweaty, and when the high subsides, sadness, paranoia, and delusions are possible. Cocaine is highly addictive, even after using it only a few times.
- Cocaine Overview
- Patterns of Cocaine Use in the U.S.
- Cocaine and Crack
- What Is Cocaine?
- Information About Cocaine
Ecstasy
Ecstasy is also referred to as E or MDMA, and it’s a dangerous street drug. Ecstasy is a hallucinogen and a stimulant that creates strong feelings of euphoria. Using Ecstasy typically causes a person to have short-term memory loss, trouble concentrating, difficulty sleeping, depression, anxiety, and mood swings. After taking Ecstasy, the heart rate and blood pressure go up, which can be dangerous. When the drug wears off, the resulting crash is usually very powerful.
- Overview of Ecstasy
- Ecstasy and the Neurobiology of Social Behavior
- Ecstasy: Is it Worth the Risk?
- Ecstasy Information
- Seven Important Things You Should Know About Molly/MDMA
- Drug Facts: MDMA
LSD and Mushrooms
Hallucinogenic mushrooms look like dried mushrooms, and they can be eaten or brewed as a tea. After ingesting these mushrooms, people will hear sounds, feel sensations, and see images that don’t really exist. These symptoms might last up to 12 hours. LSD is another hallucinogenic drug that is tasteless, odorless, and colorless. Taking LSD causes similar symptoms as hallucinogenic mushrooms. Even after the initial effects of LSD wear off, flashbacks can come back later.
- Magic Mushrooms: Psychedelics
- Psychedelics Are Back, Man
- Lysergic Acid Diethylamide
- Sixties Drugs
- Overview of Psychedelics
- This Is Your Brain on LSD
Amphetamine
Amphetamines are stimulant drugs that can lead to an addiction. Taking amphetamines causes the heart rate and blood pressure to increase. People might also have strange thoughts after taking amphetamines, and behaviors can also be unusual. Someone who struggles with depression or another form of mental illness might be especially prone to strange thoughts and behaviors after taking amphetamines.
- Drug Class: Amphetamines
- Explaining Repetitive Behavior Linked to Amphetamine Use
- Amphetamine Drugs on the Pacific Rim
- Amphetamines and Memory Loss
- Stimulants: Amphetamines and Cocaine
Alcohol
Alcohol is often appealing to teenagers because it’s more readily accessible and socially acceptable. Using alcohol presents significant risks, especially for young people. Teenagers who drink alcohol are more likely to be sexually active, and they’re more likely to be injured in a car accident or another incident, such as violent crime or drowning. Starting to drink as a teenager makes it more likely that a person will develop an addiction to alcohol.
Heroin
Heroin is an opioid drug that can cause serious harm. Not only is heroin highly addictive, but repeated misuse can have harmful effects on the brain. People experience slowed breathing after taking heroin, which can lead to brain damage, coma, and death. The addictive nature of heroin changes the brain, causing a strong need for the drug. Severe withdrawal symptoms occur if heroin use is not continued.
- What Is Heroin, and How Is it Used?
- Heroin Facts
- Opioid Addiction Facts and Figures
- Heroin: What it Is
- Opioids and Heroin Epidemic Still a Major Problem
Get Help
If a teenager develops a problem with drugs or alcohol, it’s imperative to get help quickly. Intervening to stop the drug use and get treatment can be challenging, but parents need to step in to stop the addiction. Working as a team, parents should institute house rules that stand against substance use and abuse. If the substance use continues, take further action by seeking outside help. This treatment might include inpatient or outpatient therapy, family counseling, and medication.
