Drug Abuse Starting Earlier Than Ever - Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sadly, each year more than a million teenagers are enrolled in
substance abuse treatment programs. And just like alcoholism,
many of them will struggle with their addiction throughout their
entire life. That's why it's far better for parents to prevent
kids from experimenting with drugs early on, before they get a
foothold. Why Do They Experiment? Kids are usually motivated to
experiment with drugs by curiosity and the need to fit in. They
want to try what their friends are trying, and they have a great
need to belong. Some kids experiment because they are seeking
relief from anxiety or emotional pain. In essence they are self-
medicating or using drugs or alcohol to cope with the stresses
they are feeling. For instance, many kids use marijuana to
reduce their anxiety, but medical studies show that the
prolonged use of the drug has the opposite effect, leading to
heightened anxiety, depression, nervousness, mental disorders,
paranoia and panic atta