Clinician's Corner

Adolescents & Young Adults: How Can You Tell the Difference Between Experimentation and A Problem with Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse?
Jennifer Olszewski-Garcia, MS, LPC

Experimentation with alcohol and other drugs during adolescence and young adulthood is common. Unfortunately teenagers and young adults do not see the correlation between their actions today and the consequences tomorrow. They also have a tendency to feel indestructible and immune to the problems that others experience. Some teens will experiment or stop, or continue to use occasionally, without significant problems. Others develop a dependency; move on to more dangerous drugs, and cause significant harm to themselves and others. Teenagers and young adults at risk for developing serious alcohol and drug problems include those:

• with a family history of substance abuse
• who are depressed, anxious, etc.
  
• who have low self-esteem, and
• who feel like they don't "fit in"

Alcohol is the most socially acceptable drug used by teenagers and young adults and is easiest to obtain because it is legal. The age of first use for alcohol can start before age 12. What to look for: slurred speech, disorientation, sweating, poor coordination, smell of alcohol on clothing or breath, signs that your child has vomited, excessive thirst or difficulty waking up in the morning (hangover).

Today, there are high number of teens and younger adults who are using both legal and illegal drugs. Marijuana has easily become accessible to our youth and the average age of first use is 14 years of age. The following is a list of illegal and legal drugs that are commonly used by teenagers and young adults:

• Acid (LSD)
• Cocaine/Crack
• Ecstasy and other "Club Drugs"
• Heroin
• Inhalants: aerosols, paint thinners, glues and other household chemicals
• Marijuana/Synthetic Cannaboids such as "Spice" or "K2"
• Meth or Methamphetamine
• PCP or Angel Dust (Phencyclidine)
• Prescription Drugs:
  • ADHD medications like Adderall and Ritalin
  • Benzodiazepines such as Valium, Klonopin (clonazepam), Xanax,
  • Narcotics such as Oxycontin, Oxycodone, Percocet, Vicodin, etc.
• Over the counter cold and cough medicines such as Mucinex, Sudafed, Robitussin, Coricidin, etc.

A substance abuse counselor can help parents identify what to look for as each drug causes different physiological effects. For example, dilated (or large) pupils are a side effect of Acid, Cocaine/Crack, Methamphetamine, and Marijuana. Other common side effects of illegal and legal drugs include disorientation, rambling/strange speech, rapid mood changes, restlessness, heightened anxiety, etc. There are many other symptoms of intoxication depending on the "class" of the drug. If the drug is a sedating drug, such as marijuana or alcohol, a person would have slowed or slurred speech. If a person is taking an "upper" such as Cocaine/Crack, Methamphetamine they may experience fast speech or be very talkative.

Besides physical symptoms of alcohol and drug use, there are several warning sings that parents can look for. Emotional symptoms may include personality change, irritability, sudden mood changes, irresponsible behavior, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, poor judgment, and a general lack of interest. There may be symptoms present in school such a sudden drop in grades, decreased interest, many absences, truancy, discipline issues, and a negative attitude. A teen or young adult who is using drugs or alcohol may begin to develop social problems or issues with their peers. This might mean new friends who are less interested in school, activities, and family or friends who have run-ins with the law. Lastly, parents may notice changes involving the teen or young adult in regards to family. This could mean withdrawing from family, starting more arguments than usual, or stealing from family.

How can we help teenagers take a look at their substance use when so often they do feel invincible and have not yet amassed all of the negative consequences of an adult substance abuser? I have found that teenagers respond best to an approach that involves paying close attention in how I talk to them. Teenagers and young adults are often sensitive in how they are spoken to and as a therapist I want to use words that increase the likelihood that young people will think about changing. In our therapy group, I encourage engagement, education, and exploring alternative behaviors. I encourage engagement instead of rebellion. I educate them on the different classes of drugs and explain what each can do to a person physiologically, psychologically, socially, and how one's use affects more than just the self. We do a lot of de-bunking myths about alcohol and drug use as well. I help young people explore alternative behaviors by re-creating detailed scenarios in which they may have engaged in risk behaviors before, and then review what might be difficult about altering their decisions and actions in the future. Also, drug testing/urine screens are implemented on a random basis through an outside agency. Drug testing/urine screens can be helpful to measure one's alcohol and/or drug use and frequency. They are also used to create a better picture of one's actual usage versus usage reported.

I currently facilitate a counseling group for adolescents and young adults with alcohol and other drug abuse or dependency issues. Ages for this group are generally 14 to 18 years old. Each adolescent or young adult is screened for appropriateness in terms of maturity and cognitive functioning. This group meets two evenings per week for one hour at the Glendale office and includes individual counseling for the client, as well as family counseling.

Jennifer Olszewski-Garcia, MS, LPC practices at the Milwaukee and Glendale locations of Cornerstone Counseling Services and can be reached at 262-542-3255 ext. 262.