adolescents today use drugs and alcohol at an early age. middle school parents can help their children by identifying the signs of drug abuse before depression sets in.
although the thought of a 12-year-old child drinking or using drugs on a weekly basis may seem hard to imagine, the latest statistics show:
alcohol is a leading cause of death among youth, particularly teenagers. it contributes substantially to adolescent motor vehicle crashes, other traumatic injuries, suicide, date rape, and family and school problems.
every day, on average, 11,318 american youth (12 to 20 years of age) try alcohol for the first time, compared with 6,488 for marijuana; 2,786 for cocaine; and 386 for heroin.
alcohol is by far the most used and abused drug among america’s teenagers. according to a national survey, nearly one third (31.5%) of all high school students reported hazardous drinking (5+ drinks in one setting) during the 30 days preceding the survey.
children who are drinking alcohol by 7th grade are more likely to report academic problems, substance use, and delinquent behavior in both junior high and high school. by young adulthood, early alcohol use was associated with employment problems, other substance abuse, and criminal and other violent behavior.
young people who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to develop alcoholism than those who begin drinking at 21.
parents can help
the top 2 ways parents can minimize the potential for alcohol and drug abuse are
close supervision (not hovering) of after school and weekend activities. often, a quick phone call to a friend’s parents can confirm the supervision of another adult and prevent an unwanted encounter with drugs or alcohol. talking with children about the need for supervision becomes increasingly difficult as their need for independence grows. without supervision, the possibility for injury as well as a parent’s anxiety level continue to rise.
establishing a routine, before school starts, that details the expectations for scheduling after school and weekend activities will alleviate the need for continued debates throughout the year.
the signs of depression
chronic drug or alcohol abuse is closely linked to depression in teens; however, the transition to the teen years is also filled with a host of other changes resulting in anxiety, stress and ultimately a depressed emotional state if the signs and symptoms continue to go unnoticed.
the occasional mood swing should not be confused with the persistent occurrence of one or more of the symptoms listed below.
sadness &/or crying
feelings of hopelessness
loss of interest in regular activities
lack of energy
change in sleep patterns
change in eating habits
not interacting with friends
low self-esteem
sensitivity to rejection
missing a lot of school
inability to concentrate
if your child exhibits any of the symptoms of depression on an ongoing basis, talk with your family doctor who can refer you to a counselor or another qualified professional for a more complete diagnosis.
developing positive peer relationships takes time and effort, and can be a process filled with dramatic swings of the emotional pendulum. finding the patience to listen and wait for the moment when your child is ready to talk about her personal life can prove to be an ongoing exercise in patience for parents.
except in extreme cases of bullying or social exclusion try to provide ample opportunities for growth and social problem solving by allowing your child room to experiment with building friendships and working through challenging relationships.
（本文来自）
今天的青少年在幼年时期便开始吸毒，酗酒。在那些孩子们还没有患抑郁症之前，中学生家长所要做的就是帮助他们的子女识别滥用毒品的标志。
尽管一个12岁的青少年每周都酗酒吸毒的消息让人难以想象，但是，最新统计资料表明：
酒精是导致死亡的主要原因，尤其是青少年。它诱使青少年撞车，外伤，自杀，约会强奸，还导致家庭和学校问题。
在美国，平均每天有11318个青年（ 12至20岁以下）第一次尝试喝酒，相比之下，有6488个吸食大麻;2786个吸食可卡因，386个吸食海洛因。
目前为止，乙醇是美国青少年中最常用和滥用药物。根据一项30天前的全国性调查，有近三分之一（ 31.5 ％）高中学生饮酒（ 5 +饮品）。
据报道，有七年酒龄的初高中学生更易闯乱子，挥霍无度甚至犯罪。对于年轻人来说，早期饮会影响就业问题，导致犯罪行为及其他暴力行为。
对于年轻人喝酒成瘾这个事实来讲，15岁以前开始喝酒大约是21岁开始的4倍。
家长帮助
家长实用2种方法可以尽量减少青少年潜在的酗酒和滥用毒品的危险
1. 严密监督放学后和周末的活动。通常，迅速打电话给一位朋友的父母可以证实，监管另一个成人及防止意外接触毒品或酒精。监督变得越来越困难，因为他们需要独立成长。没有监督，就有可能被伤害，以及家长的焦虑水平继续上升。
2. 开学前，建立规矩。这些细节的期望调度放学后和周末的活动，将缓解需继续进行辩论贯穿全年。
抑郁症
慢性药物或酒精滥用，是与抑郁症紧密联系在一起的，但过渡到少年来，也是充满了其他一系列的变化，导致焦虑，压力，并最终忧郁情绪，如果症状和体征继续被忽视的话。
偶尔情绪摆动不应混淆持续发生的一种或一种以上的症状，分析如下；
• 悲伤和或哭泣
• 感情无望
• 对以前的活动丧失兴趣
• 无精打采
• 改变睡眠习惯
• 改变饮食习惯
• 不愿与朋友交往
• 自卑
• 敏感多疑
• 缺课
• 精力无法集中
如果您的孩子表露出以上任何一种忧郁症状，与您的家庭医生聊聊或找位专业心里辅导员帮助诊断。
积极发展同侪关系，是需要时间和精力的，可能是一个过程充满了戏剧性的波动情绪。耐心寻找机会去倾听他们谈话，你的孩子是愿意谈他的私人生活的，这是一项持续进行的工作。
除非在极端欺凌或社会排斥的情况下，尽量提供充分机会，解决您孩子的成长和社会问题，通过有挑战性的关系，让他们走出自我，与人沟通。