ISSUES
: Drugs
Chapter 3: Addiction & rehab
37
never had any exposure to these
substances. Other factors such as
relationships with family and friends,
quality of life, stress, economic status
and peer pressure can all increase the
risk as well.
Mental health problems
Studies have shown that those with
mental health problems – such as
anxiety, stress, depression, bipolar
disorder and post-traumatic stress
disorder – have a much greater risk
of becoming addicted to substances
such as drugs or alcohol.
Trauma
Traumatic events can increase
a person’s risk of developing
an addiction. Those who have
experienced trauma in their lives may
turn to drugs or alcohol to numb the
pain. Events such as bereavement,
domestic
violence,
emotional,
physical or sexual abuse, or living with
an addicted parent can all increase
the risk. People who have had more
than one traumatic event in their lives
are even more likely to be affected by
addiction.
Although the above are factors that
increase a person’s risk of developing
an addiction, they do not necessarily
mean it will happen. Many individuals
have all of the above but do not go on
to use drugs or drink alcohol.
What to do if you have a
problem
If you are worried about the amount
of alcohol you are drinking, or find
that you are taking too many illegal or
prescription drugs, contact Addiction
Helper today. Our team of expert
advisors can give you the information
required about the current treatments
available. We can help you overcome
your problems and will put you in
touch with a suitable provider based
on your circumstances. Call us today
for advice and support.
22 October 2015
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The above information is
reprinted with kind permission
from Addiction Helper. www.
addictionhelper.com.
© Addiction Helper 2016
Is getting teenage kicks
today a direct line to drug
addiction?
By Kelvin Graham
P
arents catching sight of recent
press headlines might be
anxiously wondering if their
own teenage son or daughter’s
constant lack of a good night’s sleep
is more than just about kids being on
social media sites 24/7.
Four in ten teenagers…
New research has found that nearly
four in ten teenagers in the UK said
they had taken substances, including
cannabis and ecstasy, according to
the European School Survey Project
on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD).
The survey questioned 15- and
16-year-olds from schools in 30
European countries. Of the 223
schools in the UK which participated,
36 per cent of teenagers admitted to
trying an illegal drug. There are 5.4
million teenagers in the UK (Office
of National Statistics), so that could
mean some 1.9 million youngsters are
at potential risk of substance abuse
and addiction.
Too far-fetched, you say? In 2014,
figures released by the Home
Office showed that illicit drug use
in England and Wales rose by an
estimated 230,000 to 2.7 million over
the previous year. Nearly 80 per cent
or 180,000 of the extra users were
teenagers and young adults aged 16
to 24, who made up 1.1 million of the
total number.
It may not be too alarmist to point
to further evidence of drug use
appearing to be growing among
Britain’s youngsters…
Drugs used include cannabis,
crack cocaine…
More than 2,000 incidents over the
last four years involve school children,
one as young as eight years old,
according to figures recently obtained
from around 30 police forces under
the Freedom of Information Act. The
drugs used include cannabis, crack
cocaine, LSD and ecstasy.
While nearly 80 per cent of youngsters
aged between 11 and 15 say they
have never taken drugs, according
to children’s drug protection charity,
Mentor UK, the organisation also says
an estimated 360,000 secondary
school-aged pupils in England took at
least one drug in the previous year.
The one drug is likely to be cannabis
– the most widely used illegal drug,
according to Mentor UK with 7.5 per
cent of secondary school pupils and
14 per cent of 16- to 19-year-olds
saying they took the drug in the last
year.
“Don’t Panic…”
It’s obviously worrying news. Some
parents who might have dabbled with
a few recreational ‘soft’ drugs in their
younger days are sure to be aware
that over the decades the strength
of many – most famously, “skunk”
cannabis – have been increased many
times over to dangerously high levels.
So what to do if you’re worried your
teenage son or daughter may be
taking drugs?
Firstly, “Don’t Panic”, as Corporal
Jones from
Dad’s Army
would say! It’s
important to start talking things over
with your growing young adult, find
out a little bit more about their world,
their friends and any peer pressure
they may feel under to become
involved with taking drugs.
No doubt you will be told in no
uncertain terms that they “can handle
it, no problem” but ultimately, you may
need to seek professional advice if
you suspect there is a problem. The
key is not to get angry but always to
listen before passing them the benefit
of your experience on the left hand
side…
April 2015
Ö
Ö
The above information is reprinted
with kind permission from Help
4 Addiction. Please visit www.
help4addiction.co.uk for further
information.
© Help 4 Addiction 2016
