Teen Drinking - Don't Over-React!

Parents Urged to be Cautious

Parents who discover that their teen-ager is drinking or using drugs are being encouraged not to over-react, but to carefully assess the entire situation before taking action that could have long-term damaging effects.

Shortly after last week's article Teen Drinking - Not Just a Phase was published -- reporting that teens who exhibited symptoms of drinking problems were more likely to develop serious drinking problems, other substance abuse, and mental disorders in early adulthood -- we began to receive feedback from readers.

Experimenting, Not Addiction

Several of them offered a word of caution for parents concerned about their children's drinking or drug use, and suggested that many times parents tend to over-react if they discover their teens are using. Many teens who do drink, do not abuse alcohol, they said, and many others "experiment" with drugs, but do not become regular drug users.

Many times these casual or occasional users are forced into unneeded detox and treatment by their well-meaning parents, or even the justice system, with the encouragement of treatment professionals who have a vested interest in providing those services, some readers said.

Parents might ask the question, "What is wrong with that?" Isn't it best to be on the safe side?" That might be true in some cases, but others argue that the experience of going to detox and treatment can be damaging for young people, if they are not really abusers or addicts in the first place.

Talk With Your Children

The best thing for parents to do is talk to your children Taking a few minutes to have a serious, informed discussion about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse, could be all it takes to avoid a great deal of heartache and confusion for the family.

If you believe your child has a drug or alcohol problem, get an evaluation by a medical professional, preferably one that does not have an interest in a specific treatment facility.