by Raynie

Created on: November 04, 2008   Last Updated: November 20, 2008

The challenges our teens face today are, to say the least, overwhelming. As if having to deal with changing bodies, raging hormones, and trying to find their own identity isn't enough, there's classes, dating, being accepted, school violence is on the rise, there's pressure from the teachers, parents, and friends. They feel pressure to be smart, well behaved, pretty, and thin, athletic, and basically... perfect. While they strive to be perfect, they see friends and classmates, who have failed, cut themselves, do drugs or try to commit suicide. We have to remember that teens view things on a smaller scale then we do. Issues that don't seem like a big deal to adults can be major to teens. So take all these issues the large and the small and times them by ten. Feel overwhelmed any?

We ask ourselves, what causes teen substance abuse? Well let's go a little deeper into the issue. Teenage boys and girls have to deal with their bodies changing very quickly. They are uncomfortable in their own skin and on top of that they judge each other and themselves cruelly. Their hormones are all crazy, they don't understand completely and have little or no control over their emotions. Many teens are trying to form their own identity and figure out what kind of person they want to be. Acceptance is another big issue for teens. No one wants to be labeled 'the geek', the 'ho', or the 'trash', just to name a few. Teens who are labeled have to put up with name calling and bulling on a daily basis. Imagine walking into your work place and hearing "Bitch" thrown at you, every day, as you walk by. You talk to your boss and he/she tells you to ignore it. Which is what teachers and parents are telling teens. "Ignore it and focus on you."

Teens who fall victum to substance abuse come from all walks of life. It's more then just the typical 'troubled teen', it's also the teen who has everything. Think your teen dosen't have to deal with the tempation of drugs? Acording to greater dallas council on alcohol & drug abuse http://www.gdcada.org/statistics/teens.htm , "Teenagers whose parents talk to them regularly about the dangers of drugs are 42% less likely to use drugs than those whose parents don't, yet only 1 in 4 teens reports having these conversations." and "In 2000, more than 60% of teens said drugs were used, kept, or sold at their school." As much as we may try to protect our teens we can't block everything. Don't kid yourself they have access and they could if they wanted to. If your not talking to your teens about drugs, who is? There are many reason teens may turn to substance abuse. I've named several in this article but I bet someone will look at them and say their reason isn't listed. It's not easy growing up these days. The best anti drug is knowledge, so talk to your teens about drugs and the long term effects.

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