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TEEN STORIES OF
RECOVERY |
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REAL STORIES OF TEEN
DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE |
Massachusetts Teen Alcohol Abuse
Prescription Drug Abuse Connecticut
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Do you have a teen
or pre-teen loved one that suffers from drug and/or alcohol abuse?
"Underage drinking presents an enormous public health issue. Alcohol
is the drug of choice among children and adolescents. Annually, about 5,000
youth under age 21 die from motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries,
and homicides and suicides that involve underage drinking."
"In 2006, 1.4 million youth ages 12 to 17 needed treatment for an alcohol
problem. Of this group, only 101,000 of them received any treatment at a
specialty facility."
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism |
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DEPRESSION IN TEENS
Adolescent depression is a disorder that occurs during the teenage
years, and involves persistent sadness, discouragement, loss
of self-worth, and loss of interest in usual activities.
Depression can be a temporary response to many situations
and stresses. In adolescents, depressed mood is common because
of:
• The normal process of maturing and the stress
associated with it
• The influence of sex hormones
• Independence conflicts with parents
It
may also be a reaction to a disturbing event, such as:
• The death of a friend or relative
• A breakup
with a boyfriend or girlfriend
• Failure at school
Adolescents who have low self-esteem, are highly self-critical,
and who feel little sense of control over negative events are
particularly at risk to become depressed when they experience
stressful events. Adolescent girls are twice as likely as boys
to experience depression.
Depression is also associated with eating disorders, particularly
bulimia.
Symptoms of Teen Depression
•
Acting-out behavior (missing curfews, unusual defiance)
• Appetite changes (usually a loss of appetite but sometimes
an increase)
• Criminal behavior (such as shoplifting)
• Depressed or irritable mood
• Difficulty
concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
•
Episodes of memory loss
• Excessive sleeping or daytime
sleepiness
• Excessively irresponsible behavior pattern
• Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
• Failing relations with family and friends
•
Faltering school performance
• Fatigue Feelings of
worthlessness, sadness, or self-hatred
• Loss of interest
in activities
• Persistent difficulty falling asleep
or staying asleep (insomnia)
• Plans to commit suicide
or actual suicide attempt
• Preoccupation with self
• Reduced pleasure in daily activities
• Teen
Substance Abuse
• Temper (agitation)
• Thoughts
about suicide or obsessive fears or worries about death
• Weight change (unintentional weight loss or gain)
Treatment
Treatment options for adolescents with depression include supportive
care from a medical provider, psychotherapy, and antidepressant
medications. It is important that treatment be customized to
the adolescent and the severity of depression symptoms. Families
often participate in the treatment of adolescent depression.
Therapy
Family therapy may be helpful if family conflict is contributing
to the depression. Support from family or teachers may also
be needed to help with school problems. Occasionally, hospitalization
in a psychiatric unit may be required for individuals with severe
depression, or those who are suicide risks.
Depressed teens who act out may also become involved with the
criminal justice system. Parents are often advised not to intervene,
but to "let them experience consequences." This can harm teens
by exposing them to more deviant peers and reducing their educational
opportunities. A better solution is to get the best possible
legal advice and search for treatment on your own. This gives
parents more control over treatment techniques and options.
Depressive episodes usually respond to treatment. Early and
appropriate treatment of depression in adolescence may prevent
further episodes. However, about half of seriously depressed
teens are likely to have continued problems with depression
as adults.
NEVER IGNORE A SUICIDE THREAT OR ATTEMPT!
Prevention
Periods of depressed mood are common in most adolescents. However,
supportive relationships and healthy coping skills can help
prevent these periods from leading to more severe depressive
symptoms. Open communication with your teen can help identify
depression earlier.
Counseling may help teens deal with periods of low mood. Cognitive
behavioral therapy, which teaches depressed people ways of fighting
negative thoughts, is the most effective non-medication treatment
for depression. Ensure that the counselors or psychologists
you work with are well trained in this method.
For adolescents with a strong family history of depression or
multiple risk factors, episodes of depression may not be preventable.
For these teens, early identification and prompt and appropriate
treatment of depression may prevent or postpone further episodes.
Information contained above is courtesy
of The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) for more information
please visit: http://www.nlm.nih.gov
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