Adolescent Alcohol & Drug Use

Young people sometimes turn to alcohol and drugs to cope with life’s frustrations, feel more adult-like, fit in, rebel, or satisfy their curiosity about drugs and drinking. Teens with depression or other mental health problems are particularly vulnerable to alcohol and drug use.

Many adolescents fail to recognize that they are depressed and why they are depressed. But, when they drink alcohol or take drugs to alleviate their stress or emotional pain, they can develop or worsen depression.

Alcohol is a drug, with serious risks and potentially harmful consequences. Marijuana and other drugs are also dangerous and often addictive. Casual use of drugs like club drugs, inhalants and steroids can cause long-lasting brain damage and impair health.

Signs of Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use

• Getting drunk or high on drugs on a regular basis
• Lying about alcohol or other drug use
• Planning drinking in advance, hiding alcohol, drinking or using drugs alone
• Believing that to have fun, drinking or drug use are necessary
• Giving up activities once enjoyed to drink or use drugs
• Experiencing frequent hangovers
• Drinking and driving
• Blacking out
• Taking risks, including sexual risks
• Feeling run-down, hopeless, depressed or even suicidal
• Talking excessively about drinking or using drugs
• Getting in trouble with the law
• Getting suspended from school for an alcohol- or drug-related incident

Consequences of Adolescent Alcohol and Drug Use

• General lack of motivation and energy
• Having unplanned and unprotected sex
• Declining grades and school failure
• Loss of interest in family and friends
• Injuries from driving under the influence
• Excessive need for privacy, secretive behavior
• Difficulty concentrating
• Personality changes
• Sleep disturbances
• Appetite changes
• Depression
• Moodiness

Help is Available

It is important to get help for alcohol and drug problems early. Adolescents who use alcohol or other drugs should be screened for depression, anxiety disorders and for the severity of their substance abuse problem. When appropriate, they should be referred to education or support groups, or for counseling.

Resources

• National Mental Health Association, www.nmha.org, 800-969-NMHA
• 800-DRUGHELP /24-hour hotline, www.drughelp.org.
• Alcoholics Anonymous, www.aa.org, 212-870-3400
• National Institute on Drug Abuse, www.nida.nih.gov
• National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, www.health.org, www.clubdrugs.org, 301-443-1124
• National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, www.ncadd.org, 888-NCA-CALL

For more information or services, contact Mississippi Families as Allies for Children’s Mental Health at www.msfaacmh.org, the National Mental Health Association at www.nmha.org or the National Mental Health Information Center at www.mentalhealth.org.

Mississippi Families as Allies for Children's Mental Health, Inc., is a statewide, not-for-profit organization for Mississippi's children and youth with mental health needs. All services are offered free of charge and complete confidentiality is maintained.To request services or for more information, call Mississippi Families as Allies for Children’s Mental Health at 601-981-1618, 1-800-833-9671 (toll-free).