Co-Dependency with Teen Drug Abuse

In the first рοrtіοn οf this series I talked about the danger οf living іח a co-dependent relationship with уοur teenager who іѕ using drugs. In this раrt οf the series I want tο talk a little about what that relationship looks like and how іt plays out in the family when you have a teenager who іѕ using drugs.

Sοmе mау not even know that they аrе in a co-dependent relationship with their teenagers who аrе using drugs. Fοr instance I’m the leader in a recovery program. When wе wеrе starting the recovery program a man approached mе tο let mе know how he responded tο the use οf drugs with his own teenager.

Hе told mе that he would mаkе his home a safe environment fοr his teenager and their friends tο come and hang out and get it out οf their system. Keep in mind this wаѕ a leader in the local church and wаѕ telling mе this аѕ wе wеrе promoting a Celebrate Recovery program.

Aѕ I stated in the first series, co-dependency іѕ actually a learned behavior. You can actually pass іt down frοm one generation tο another, constantly teaching those that you raise how tο function and live in a co-dependent relationship. This man wаѕ teaching his son how tο not only live in a co-dependent relationship but hοw tο raise his own kids in a co-dependent relationship.

The first thing you need tο do іѕ аѕk yourself…аm I living іn denial? Read entire article

-www.methdrugaddiction.com

What's A Parent to Think About... Teens Substance Abuse?

Many parents may think back to their teen years, and consider "experimenting" with substances (tobacco, alcohol, marijuana) as a harmless rite of passage. These days, however, scientists would not agree with that.

It's becoming very clear that early use of substances can lead to a number of poor outcomes for youth- and can adversely affect their development well into adulthood. Consider these three points:

*First, the earlier youths start expimenting with substances, the more likely they are to progress to higher, more problematic levels of use, both in adolescence and adulthood. In particular, early onset is a strong predictor of eventual substance use disorders and dependence. Keep in mind that use of any substance is a risk for use of other substances- such that, for example, early smoking can predict eventual alcohol abuse.

*Second, contrary to prior thinking on the topic, new research suggests that youths who start using substances at an early age can rapidly escalate their use during their teen years. How rapid? Recent articles have shown that teens can develop a substance-use disorder within three years of their first experiences.

*Third, early use of substances is predictive of a host of other serious outcomes, both in adolescence and into adulthood. These include risk for early pregnancy, herpes infection, crime and suicide attempts. It's important to keep in mind that these risks are present even for youths who do not have psychological problems when they start using stubstances.

Read entire article here.

-By Richard Rende, Ph.D, http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100916/LIFE/100919946/-1/NEWSMAP

Teens who drink at home drink more

A new study published in the latest edition of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs concludes that teenagers who drink with their parents tend to drink more. The study included more than 400 families with two teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15. The researchers found a positive correlation between the amount that teens drink at home and the amount they drink when they aren’t home.

Some parents have asserted that they would rather have their teen drink at home where they can keep an eye on them.

Instead, the study seems to support the opposing view that teens who see good behavior modeled in the home (limited and responsible adult-only drinking in this case) will learn that same behavior. Researchers found that teens who drank in the home tended to drink more in public. The reverse was also true. The more teens drank outside the home, the more likely they were to drink in the home. The study also reports that teens who drank more often tended to score higher on measures of problem behaviors two years later.

Read entire article here.

-By Crystal Ladwig, www.examiner.com

Teen night owls: 2 wired 2 sleep

Lots of teens are into vampires these days. Many more of them seem to be keeping vampire hours.

Take Alexa McGill, who has a very modern way of falling asleep. She does it while texting.

"Usually I'll wake up in the middle of night, reply to the text I fell asleep during, then stay up for a few more hours," said McGill, 16, who lives in Anoka. "Around 5 a.m. I'll try to get a couple more hours of sleep because I have to get up at 7 to get ready for work."

When Sam Humleker of Minneapolis was in 10th grade, he was almost always asleep by 9:30 p.m. Now, two years later, the 18-year-old is up till 1 a.m., texting, Skyping, checking his Gmail, digg.com and Facebook. He tells his mother, Cordelia Anderson, that 1 o'clock in the morning isn't so bad: "Some of my friends are up till 3 a.m.," he said.

Kind of makes the days when Mom or Dad would bust their little night owlets for shining a flashlight on a good book under the covers seem as quaint as a Norman Rockwell painting.

It's a problem that has gotten worse with each new technological temptation to come their way -- especially something as small and easy to slip under a pillow as a cell phone, which can be used for playing video games and Web browsing as well as texting. It's how teens socialize and it's available 24/7, making it hard to tear themselves away from just one more text, just a few more minutes on the Xbox.

The numbers tell the story. Half of adolescents get fewer than eight hours (they actually need nine or more) of sleep on school nights, and only 15 percent of them get adequate sleep, according to a new poll on teens and sleep from the National Sleep Foundation.

Problem behind the problem

-By KRISTIN TILLOTSON, Star Tribune

How to Keep Your Children on the Path

As a parent it can be difficult to naviage the sometimes tumultuous waters. Not only as a Christian do we have the typical parenting issues to get through but we add another dimension to it when our faith becomes involved. Our faith is often what dictates the way we parent, the choices we make and how we raise up our children.

As a Christian parent, however, we have to be careful that we don't make Christianity a list of do's and don'ts. This can be a fine line to walk. There are definitely some standards that come into play which must be abided by. However a standard should be just that. It is a way of living, not a rule.

By nature people don't particularly care for rules. Children may not like rules either but they need them. Rules help to govern. However there is also a time and a place for rules. Living as a Christian is not the time or place. Too many children have the mindset that rules are made for breaking. So if they begin breaking what they consider to be "Christian" rules they could be heading for danger.

Instead, as a parent we should create a lifestyle that influences our
children. I personally don't believe in telling a child the reason they can't do something is because "we are Christians." While being a Christian most certainly may drive our choices and decisions, it is more than that.

What example are we setting for our children?

Read entire article here.

- By: Stephanie Romero, everydaychristian.com

Obesity, Stress, Teen Pregnancy – Top Health Problems for Kids – Getting Worse

Recent national statistics on obesity show the prevalence of childhood obesity leveling off. However, according to a report released today by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, public concern about childhood obesity remains high. For the third straight year, childhood obesity is rated the biggest health problem for kids by adults in the United States.

In May 2010, the Poll asked 2,064 adults to rate 20 different health concerns for children living in their communities. The top 10 overall health concerns for U.S. children in 2010 and the percentage of adults who rate each as a “big problem” include:

1. Childhood obesity, 38 percent
2. Drug abuse, 30 percent
3. Smoking, 29 percent
4. Internet safety, 25 percent
5. Stress, 24 percent
6. Bullying, 23 percent
7. Teen pregnancy, 23 percent
8. Child abuse and neglect, 21 percent
9. Alcohol abuse, 20 percent
10. Not enough opportunities for physical activity, 20 percent

Read entire article here.

- University of Michigan Health System

Teen Behavior is Behavior with a Reason

Youth specialist Tim Sanford encourages parents to realize that children
always do things for reasons. He exlains that many times parents don't know the
real reason behind a teen's behavior. He says, "God didn't make us random
beings, so our behavior (even rebellious behavior) is stemming from a
reason.

It's important to get to teh 'itch' (core reason) behind teh 'scratch'
(outward behavior or attitude)." Whether dealing with basic issues such as
respect or complex issues such as at-risk behavior, parents sometimes struggle
to understand the difference between healthy teenage autonomy adn blatant teen
rebellion.

What looks like rebellion may actually be a teen's natural "itch" for
greater independence.

Read more here.

-Pam Woody, www.FocusOnTheFamily.com