National Substance Use Prevention Month

The entire month of October is National Substance Use Prevention Month. Dedicate some time to have a conversation about preventing substance use with your children. Depending on the age of your child, speak slowly and with a calm voice about preventing drug use. Every year, drug use has been increasing in middle schools and high schools. The reasons vary for using drugs such as peer pressure, loneliness, nervousness, fitting in, social media challenges, and being exposed to drugs from someone they admire.

 

Other times experiencing child abuse, or another traumatic event makes them more vulnerable to taking and abusing drugs. Another reason teens use drugs is to forget and escape from reality. Furthermore, teens use drugs to help them calm down before taking tests in school. Yet most teens try drugs out of curiosity as well as sharing drugs with the person they are dating. Other teens try drugs to feel elevated and to be a different person.

On average, most teens hide drug use from their parents or other family members. It is so difficult at times to understand someone who is addicted to drugs. The more a person is addicted to a drug, their personality, and moods change; Nonetheless, the drugs take over their brain making it hard to believe their true feelings. It is hard to comprehend the motives for using drugs, alcohol, and substances. With the help of therapy, a teenager can understand what motivated them to use drugs.

Recovering and managing addictions to substances can be a lifelong process. As well as rediscovering themselves and strengthening their self-esteem. Besides their self-esteem, it is important to rebuild their relationships. Being addicted to drugs makes them lose their true friendships and worthwhile relationships. Additionally, a teenager can lose themselves because of an addiction.

Preventing substance use has been a perplexing task for parents and teachers. Each year it gets tougher to prevent. Educate yourself by taking drug prevention workshops and learning about the various drugs teens are using. Learn about the drug slang words that teenagers use to be alert. Be aware of the warning signs of drug use.

Learn about the fentanyl epidemic. Wear a red ribbon during the Red Ribbon Week. Red Ribbon Week is from October 23rd through October 31st. This week is devoted to keeping kids away from drugs, alcohol, and other substances. Here are websites with tips for preventing substance use. 

Youth Substance Use Prevention Month:

https://www.samhsa.gov/blog/youth-substance-use-prevention-month

National Substance Abuse Prevention Month:

https://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/national-substance-abuse-prevention-month

Red Ribbon Campaign-Largest Drug Use Prevention Campaign in the U.S.:

Red Ribbon Campaign | Largest drug-use prevention campaign in the U.S.

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