Drinking and Drug Abuse… How Parents Set the Stage for Adolescent Substance Use

Yes, adolescents have indulged in experimental substances and activities since ancient times. And, yes, other cultures do not hold the same barriers to alcohol use as American social norms seem to uphold. Nonetheless, it is American adolescents that are said to overindulge in all substances, legal or illegal, more so than any other cultures. Reasons for overindulgence range from simple peer pressure to complex mental health issues and use of drugs for self-medication. But where did American youth find such easy access and reduced personal belief for overindulgence and participation in substances as a routine pastime? Chances are, it all started at home where they observed parents doing the same.

Starts at Home
Although the era of the 'flower child' and Woodstock lifestyles are long gone, many parents adopted such practices in the home on a regular basis. The use of sedative type drugs such as Valium, Percocets, Vicadins and numerous others are well-documented in social science research. Similarly, stimulants such as Cocaine or Crack tend to sound exciting to many teens; and of course, let’s not forget Ecstasy and now even Viagra is being fooled with by teens. In one instance, five teenage boys took Viagra during lunchtime at school and had to be taken to the emergency room for obvious reasons. Perhaps, the most obvious of all, Marijuana is still easiest to get hold of and many kids consider that a non-drug.

Mom’s or Dad’s Supply
Upon questioning, as to first use of drugs, many teens report that they first experimented with drugs from “mom or dad's supply.” Regardless of how large a home is, or how hard an adult may try to hide it, Marijuana smoking results in pungent odors that cannot be ignored. Certainly, any teen that faces its smell on a daily is more aware of its existence than any parent wishes to believe.

So, if you spend your own social past time 'under the influence,' how can you expect a teen to do otherwise? If you are often drunk on the weekends or brag about 'how smashed' everyone got at a local gathering, don't expect your child to do anything different.

Any child as young as 8 or 10 years of age is quite aware of your behavioral differences after you’ve snuck into the house after smoking a joint in the yard or out with friends. Kids see through your munchie binging, sneaking around, and denying what you’re doing when accusations fly.

Early Refusal to Indulge
True many pre-puberty teens attest to never ever coming home drunk or smoking junk, but then the mere fact that they witnessed a parent under the influence, gives them subliminal permission to do the same. They may object while in elementary school, but by the time peer pressure avails in middle or high school, if sufficiently taunted or harassed, your child may easily resort to the same activity, rationalizing it away by thinking “what the heck mom does it, or dad does it, too.” At the extreme of course, is the parent who indulges regularly to the point of including the child in the smoking process, feeling more like a 'friend' to the child rather acting like a parent.

Generational Addiction
Genetics may further heighten potential substance addiction across generations. Recent research cites that genetic render an individual 50 to 60 percent more vulnerable for later addiction to substances as a young adult. Genes alone are not the only culprit -- learned behaviors from environmental pressures are also apparent. If parents do it, why shouldn't kids do it?

Also, different levels of gene involvement may appear. With some groups of genes there is a subtle propensity to use; while another set of genes provide a more dominant tendency to use. Stress can also act as a catalyst to use various substances. When adults ‘use’ after a bad day at work, children also learn to relieve stress by using a substance. And still other pressers such as physical attributes may cause some to use substances, an event often referred to as ‘self-medicating.’ For example, there are youngsters who take drugs to relieve symptoms of ADHD, but by adolescents they’re removed from the medications. Unfortunately, this youth has a much greater potential in adolescents to then use Marijuana or Alcohol to 'calm down' or to 'chill out.' Often family members may not recognize the relationship between drugs and prior ADHD diagnosis, but recent research shows this as prominent in substance abusers, that is, prior use of medications to alleviate anxiety and over activity. This is not to say that any one factor noted above is a guarantee that an adolescent will abuse, but when factors begin to pile up, then potential for substances abuse becomes a more viable means of alleviating stress and anxiety.

ADHD and Substance Use
One research study conducted by the University of New York sampled 142 teens between ages of 13 to 18, divided them into two groups, one diagnosed with ADHD before age 5 and the second group was never diagnosed with ADHD. Results indicated that teens formerly diagnosed with ADHD reported more frequent overindulgence in Alcohol, drunken episodes, and a greater propensity for use of any substance in general. Teens with severe ADHD indicated a 5 times greater chance of indulging in substances.

Some theorists believe that this occurs because the excess brain activity and neural impulses never diminished, thus, in order to attain the same 'normal' manner of functioning required for adjustment in general, another substance must be used.

Signs of Trouble Ahead
The following warning signs warrant deeper investigation of your child's activities:

1. A sudden change or reduction in quality of friends
2. Associations that worry either parent
3. A reduced sense of conscientious behavior
4. A more dominant means of defiance of authority
5. Frequent mood changes and withdrawal from family activities
6. Physical symptoms of being 'buzzed' 'drunk' or 'glassy eyed'
7. Reduced interest in former wholesome activities
8. Secretive disappearances without an explanation; or the
9. Sudden arrival of more money than is earned by any obvious means
10. Association with peers who are often in trouble, car accidents, or fights

If you are aware of many signs in your adolescent, yet have remained in denial that your child would do such a thing, think again, anyone is prone to substance abuse with sufficient stressors. In 2000, 21% of all fatal crashes of adolescents involved alcohol use. That means that each time your child drives and drinks, you have a 1in 5 chance of seeing him alive again that night; something no parents wants to hear.

As a parent, it is your duty and job to watch, monitor, sanction and if necessary, investigate your adolescent's activities, after all, you may save your child's life.

Informational Resources:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism at www.niaaa.nigh.gov
School Counselors or School Psychologists
Community Educational Programs
Community Educational Programs
School Counselors or School Psychologists

Service Related Referral Sources:
Drug Abuse 24-hour hotline 800-234-1253
Drug Abuse AAA 800-222-0199
Family Resources http://www.family.samhsa.gov/main/facts.aspx

Dr. Felicia the ParentCoach
F Felicia Ferrara, Ph.D.
The Consultation and Evaluation Center
Tampa, FL
813-259-0303