Huffington Post is reporting on a new study which looks at substance abuse among adolescents in the article, Teen Drug And Alcohol Use Lowest Among Blacks, Asians:
“There is certainly still a myth out there that black kids are more likely to have problems with drugs than white kids, and this documents as clearly as any study we’re aware of that the rate of … substance-related disorders among African American youths is significantly lower,” Dan Blazer from Duke’s Department of Psychiatry, a senior author of the study, told the Raleigh News & Observer….
Few teens used heroin, but of those who reported use, a quarter were using it abusively. Teens reported using marijuana more than any other drug, with 13 percent of those surveyed reporting marijuana use in the last year, followed by 7 percent reported having used prescription pain killers.
“A lack of cultural competence is identified as a major gap, as insensitivity to cultural differences can limit the ability to treat and retain minority adolescents,” the researchers write in their report. “Taken together, these findings call for efforts to identify and expand prevention measures that are culturally effective and address the quality and acceptability of treatment for adolescents with substance use problems.”
A separate report released in June supported previous research that early substance use affects the likelihood of abuse in adulthood. The study, by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University showed that 90 percent of Americans who are current substance abusers started using drugs or alcohol before they turned 18.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/08/teen-drug-and-alcohol-use_n_1082219.html?ref=education
What is Substance Abuse?
HELPGUIDE.ORG defines substance abuse and also describes some of the traits of a substance abuser. Although, the focus of this article is children and teens who abuse various substances, there is a widespread problem with their parents and caretakers. A recent report found that many children live with parents who are substance abusers
Often children who evidence signs of a substance abuse problem come from homes where there is a substance abuse problem. That problem may be generational. eMedicineHealth lists some of the causes of substance abuse.
Substance abuse is often a manifestation of other problems that child has either at home or poor social relations including low self esteem. Dr. Alan Leshner summarizes the reasons children use drugs in why do Sally and Johnny use drugs?
How Can You Recognize the Signs of Substance Abuse?
Parents provides general signs of substance abuse and also gives specific signs of alcohol abuse, and several different drugs, narcotics, and inhalants. The general warning signs are:
· Changes in friends
· Negative changes in schoolwork, missing school, or declining grades
· Increased secrecy about possessions or activities
· Use of incense, room deodorant, or perfume to hide smoke or chemical odors
· Subtle changes in conversations with friends, e.g. more secretive, using “coded” language
· Change in clothing choices: new fascination with clothes that highlight drug use
· Increase in borrowing money
· Evidence of drug paraphernalia such as pipes, rolling papers, etc.
· Evidence of use of inhalant products (such as hairspray, nail polish, correction fluid, common
household products); Rags and paper bags are sometimes used as accessories
· Bottles of eye drops, which may be used to mask bloodshot eyes or dilated pupils
· New use of mouthwash or breath mints to cover up the smell of alcohol
· Missing prescription drugs—especially narcotics and mood stabilizers
Remember, these are very general signs, specific drugs, narcotics, and other substances may have different signs, it is important to read the specific signs.
What Steps Should a Parent Take?
The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has a series of questions parents should ask
If you suspect that your child has a substance abuse problem, you will have to seek help of some type. You will need a plan of action. The Partnership for a Drug Free America lists 7 Steps to Take and each step is explained at the site.
If your child has a substance abuse problem, both you and your child will need help. “One day at a time” is a famous recovery affirmation which you and your child will live the meaning. The road to recovery may be long or short, it will have twists and turns with one step forward and two steps back. In order to reach the goal of recovery, both parent and child must persevere.
Questions to Ask a Treatment Facility
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (Center), lists the following questions that should be asked of a treatment center. Assuming you are not one of those ill-advised parents who supply their child with alcohol or drugs like marijuana in an attempt to be hip or cool, suspicions that your child may have a substance abuse problem are a concern. Confirmation that your child has a substance abuse problem can be heartbreaking. Even children whose parents have seemingly done everything right can become involved with drugs. The best defense is knowledge about your child, your child’s friends, and your child’s activities
Resources
Adolescent Substance Abuse Knowledge Base
Warning Signs of Teen Drug Abuse
Center for Substance Abuse Publications
National Clearinghouse for Drug and Alcohol Information
WEBMD: Parenting and Teen Substance Abuse
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a very good booklet for families What is Substance Abuse Treatment?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a web site for teens and parents that teaches about drug abuse NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse
Here is the citation to the study:
Racial/Ethnic Variations in Substance-Related Disorders Among Adolescents in the United States
Li-Tzy Wu, ScD; George E. Woody, MD; Chongming Yang, PhD; Jeng-Jong Pan, PhD; Dan G. Blazer, PhD, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(11):1176-1185. doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.120
Results Of 72 561 adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, 37.0% used alcohol or drugs in the past year; 7.9% met criteria for a substance-related disorder, with Native Americans having the highest prevalence of use (47.5%) and disorder (15.0%). Analgesic opioids were the second most commonly used illegal drugs, following marijuana, in all racial/ethnic groups; analgesic opioid use was comparatively prevalent among adolescents of Native American (9.7%) and multiple race/ethnicity (8.8%). Among 27 705 past-year alcohol or drug users, Native Americans (31.5%), adolescents of multiple race/ethnicity (25.2%), adolescents of white race/ethnicity (22.9%), and Hispanics (21.0%) had the highest rates of substance-related disorders. Adolescents used marijuana more frequently than alcohol or other drugs, and 25.9% of marijuana users met criteria for marijuana abuse or dependence. After controlling for adolescents’ age, socioeconomic variables, population density of residence, self-rated health, and survey year, adjusted analyses of adolescent substance users indicated elevated odds of substance-related disorders among Native Americans, adolescents of multiple race/ethnicity, adolescents of white race/ethnicity, and Hispanics compared with African Americans; African Americans did not differ from Asians or Pacific Islanders.
Conclusions Substance use is widespread among adolescents of Native American, white, Hispanic, and multiple race/ethnicity. These groups also are disproportionately affected by substance-related disorders.
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