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HOW PARENTS CAN USE SOCIAL MEDIA TO DETERMINE IF THEIR TEENS HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO DRUG ACTIVITY

PEER PRESSURE IS A DANGEROUS REALITY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Nowadays, social media is everywhere. From big-time corporations to startup entrepreneurs (or even the weekender who wants to connect with friends), these networks offer a means to connect with people around the world. However, as we have learned from countless streams of news stories, these tools are not always good, are they? Stalking, harassment, death threats, murder – all of these crimes can easily be committed with the help of social media. While you want your teens to be happy, you certainly do not want them to be exposed to horrible activities like this. As we have seen over the past couple of months, however, drug traffickers and illegal dealers are also making their presence known on Instagram and Facebook. Is it possible for you to use these tools to your advantage, though? Let’s take a closer look at how parents can use social media networks to determine if their teens are being exposed to drug activity.

Understanding the Platforms

Like texting, drug abuse and addiction can set in with the touch of a button, all thanks to the peer pressure of less than worthy friends. So how can parents use social media to prevent their children from falling into dangerous traps? After all, teens are programmed to take risks and seek thrills

According to the experts, social media site are an excellent resource for teens who want to know more about the high life. In fact, research indicates that these young people are often offered illegal prescription drugs by means of emails, pop-up advertisements, and (of course) social media. Not only that, but these sites also help teens understand what steps they need to take to get “high.” Keep in mind that the most popular platforms are:

  • Snapchat: creation of photos/videos with captions
  • Tumblr: microblogging platform
  • Twitch: livestreaming for video games

Set a Good Example

As parents, you are supposed to set a good example for your kids, and one particularly good place to start is critical thinking on the Internet. The web offers many things, both good and bad, for your teens, and they might not always be willing to listen. As a result, parents need to take more extreme measures. Here are some steps you can take to use social media as a monitoring tool as much as a learning tool:

  • Explain the implications of using the Internet to your teens
  • Become acquainted with social media sites (as well as regular sites your teens visit) and closely monitor their web activities on these platforms
  • Use parental control features to block inappropriate content
  • Enable the Safari restrictions tab on your Smartphone to block internet use, inappropriate camera use, or spending money

Besides these steps, you should also learn more about webspeak, a form of abbreviated chatting that has become popular with teens. Some examples of dangerous or suggestive webspeak include:

  • DOC: Drug of Choice
  • PAL: Parents are Listening
  • P911: Parent Alert
  • 420: Marijuana
  • KPC: Keep Parents Clueless
  • BRB: Be Right Back

Always remember that mind-altering drugs do not have control over your life. You do. Are you suffering from a substance use disorder or a severe form of addiction? Do you have a friend or family member suffering from one or more of these debilitating illnesses? If you do, get in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our counselors and healthcare experts are ready to walk you through every step of the detox and withdrawal process and rehabilitation and guide you towards living a happier, healthier, and freer lifestyle. While the road to recovery might not be an easy road to travel, we promise to help you every step of the way. Take the first step to stay fit, healthy, and safe.

The time for you to take back control of your life is now. If you are interested in one of our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how to overcome your drug abuse or addiction troubles today.