It is never too early to have a discussion with your child about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and how drugs can effect the body. According to Oxford Dictionaries, a drug is defined as a medicine or substance that has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced to the body. A drug addiction is a dependency upon that drug, usually caused by repeated use or overuse of the drug or substance. Drugs can have an especially profound effect on children and their development.
The most common types of drug addictions in children are marijuana, alcohol, Adderall and tobacco.
Marijuana use among children is steadily growing due to the increasing perception that marijuana is not a dangerous drug. According to a 2013 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 7 percent of eighth graders, 18 percent of 10th graders and 22.7 percent of 12th graders used marijuana over the past month, rising from 2008 where only 5.8 percent of eighth graders, 13.8 percent of 10th graders and 19.4 percent of twelfth graders used marijuana.
Alcohol abuse continues to be a leading issue with children. Although alcohol use among teens is at an all-time low, in 2013, 3.5 percent of eighth graders, 12.8 percent of tenth graders and 26 percent of 12th graders reported getting drunk in the past month.
Drugs used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), such as Adderall or Ritalin, are also drugs that children often abuse. Statistics show that 7.4 percent of 12th graders reported taking Adderall for non-medical reasons.
Although the majority of these drugs have decreased in use among children over the past decade, drug addiction in children remains an issue. Drug addiction can have multiple effects on children, including on their academic, physical and mental health.
Children who become addicted to drugs often have declining academic performance in school and other activities. Children who are addicted to drugs are also at a high risk for dropping out of high school. In 1992, the Bureau of Justice Statistics stated that cognitive and behavioral problems experienced by alcohol and drug-using youth may interfere with academic performance and also present obstacles to learning.
Drug addiction can also result in physical and mental harm. Teenagers can get into automobile accidents if they are driving while under the influence of alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2010, 22 percent of drivers ages 15 to 20 involved in fatal motor-vehicle crashes had been drinking alcohol. Children who suffer from drug addiction can also experience depression, developmental lags, apathy, withdrawal and other physiological dysfunctions. They are also at higher risk than non-users for conduct problems, personality disorders, suicidal thoughts, attempted suicide and suicide.
As a reminder, if you or your child are having problems with drug addiction, please seek medical help. Eskenazi Health Midtown Community Mental Health provides services for alcohol and drug addiction for children and adults, as well as adults. For more information, please call 880-8491 or visit EskenaziHealth.edu.
Nydia Nuñez-Estrada, M.D.
Family Medicine
Eskenazi Health Center North Arlington