It’s not uncommon for a teenager to be reclusive, combative and sometimes downright rude. But oftentimes what a parent thinks to be typical teenager hormonal behavior could be the signs of Teenage Alcohol Addiction.
REASONS WHY TEENAGERS DRINK
There are many reasons why an adolescent turns to alcohol at a young age. Some of these reasons include: living in a broken home, mirroring an alcoholic parent and peer pressure.
One of the main reasons for teenage alcoholism is living in a home where one of the parents is no longer there. Teens turn to alcohol as a mechanism to drown the pain of the absentee parent and mask the feelings of abandonment.
Another reason teenagers drink is that they are mirroring what they see their parents do. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has cited that “parents who drink more and who view drinking favorably may have children who drink more.”
Peer pressure is a strong factor of underage alcoholism. Many teens have heard about the dangers of drinking and may not want to indulge in the activity, but the desire to feel inclusive far outweighs any unforeseen consequences.
SIGNS YOUR TEENAGER IS DRINKING
It can be difficult to pinpoint the behaviors of a teenager but there are warning signs that will alert you that your teenager might have a problem with alcohol. These signs include a decline in personal hygiene, change in personality and missing school activities.
When a teenager begins to slack on their grooming routine opting for unkempt hair, wearing dirty or wrinkled clothing or not washing their face and brushing their teeth, this is a sign.
If your teenager starts to have extreme mood swings, seems depressed, has anxiety and loss of appetite this also is a warning sign of alcohol abuse.
A huge indicator of teenage alcoholism is the changes in patterns at school. According to Innovations in Clinical Neuroscience, “a red flag that may alert a parent or healthcare professional to teenage drug and alcohol use is the deterioration of school grades and skipping of classes.”
HOW TO HELP YOUR TEENAGER
Once you recognize and accept that your teenager has a problem with alcohol abuse you must put you him or her on a path to recovery. Thinking that your teenager is just going through a phase won’t make the problem go away. Enrolling your teenager into a treatment program will begin the recovery process.
Treatment centers offer sessions that are comprised of support groups with their peers are available as well as family-based treatment sessions. A combination of both session types may be beneficial for your teenager.
The most crucial and important assistance you can give your teenager that is suffering from the disease of alcoholism is to listen, be supportive and non-judgmental. Your teen needs your support and love while recovering from alcoholism.
Asana Recovery offers medically supervised detox programs. We also have a residential drug treatment facility located in Orange County, California. For more information on the programs that we offer, please call us at 949-438-4504 and speak with one of our admissions counselors today.
