4. Signs of stress and the ways to reduce stress

Some times stress could cause use of drug, alcohol and tobacco. Parents have to be aware of their teen�s problems.

Some signs of stress your adolescence might show:

• Angers easily

• Misbehaves frequently

• Fights often

• Easily frustrated

• Often moody

• Refuses to do what he or she is told

• Little energy

• Doesn�t care about personal hygiene and appearance

• Short attention span

• Often sleepy

• Unusually hyperactive

• Often depressed

• Cries easily

• Falling grades

• Low self-esteem

• Does not talk positively and nicely about self

• Withdrawn

• Change in eating habits

Some ways to help reduce stress in your teen�s life:

• Have your child talk to you about his/her feelings and concerns.

• Give the habit of good nutrition and exercise during the early years.

• Give your child a big hug whatever their age is or take a long walk with him/her before and/or after a stressful situation.

• Help a child learn from mistakes and learn to forgive.

• Teach them the value of forgiveness of others and of themselves.

• Don�t exhaust your child by having too many activities all at once.

• Set up a special time each day just for the two of you. Read a book together, watch a TV program, or bake a dessert.

• Show that you trust in your child�s ability to handle problems and new challenges.

• Get your child�s idea in solving problems or about dealing with a stressful situation and show him/her how pleased you are with his/her care and consideration.

• Help your child to express anger positively, without showing aggression.

• Help your child learn from his/her mistakes and learn to forgive

 back to the top

5. Marijuana use

•  USE OF MARIJUANA AND IT'S EFFECTS  

Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug among youth and according to the research, marijuana causes a number of harmful physical and mental effects.

According to research marijuana affects:

• The brain

• The lungs

• The heart

• Memory

• Pregnancy

• The ability to meet and solve problems

Marijuana damages, weakens or harms:

• Psychomotor skills

• Attention and memory, ability to concentrate, learn and keep new information.

• Ability to make good decisions.

• Healthy social relationships

 back to the top

• WHAT EVERY TEEN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT MARIJUANA  

Long-term studies show that use of other illicit drugs among youth almost never occurs unless they have first used marijuana. Every teen should know that:

• Marijuana is illegal: Marijuana can get teens suspended from school. Using, sharing, holding, buying, or selling marijuana is illegal.

• It is harmful to your health: Marijuana is dangerous to everybody�s health such as heart, brain, and lungs. It weakens motor skills like those necessary to drive a car.

• Ruins social relationships: Marijuana hurts the social life, education, and family ties.

• Reduces the ability to concentrate: It impairs the users attention, concentration, and coordination such as the ability to do things like sports, studying etc.

• It is not cool: Something that is unhealthy, dangerous and illegal cannot be cool. It won't make you happy or help you learn. Nobody becomes popular with the use of marijuana.

• Resist peer pressure: Be strong. Say no to drugs. Once you say no then there is going to be less pressure as time goes on.

• Do not need it: Use of marijuana won�t help to reduce stress or solve problems, it will create more problems. To solve problems it is better to talk to someone about them such as friends, family, and other adults you trust.

• Should not try it: Everybody does not use drugs. Do the rights thing. There are many teens that enjoy life without drugs.

• It leads to the use of other drugs: Using marijuana at a young age increases the risk of using other drugs later. Many teens become addicted to marijuana and will use more dangerous drugs that will cause them serious harm.

 back to the top

• REASONS WHY TEENS BECOME INVOLVED WITH MARIJUANA

According to research:

• Parents don�t discuss the danger of drugs with their children.

• Teens are left with less adult supervision because of societal changes.

• Young people have more access now than they had ever had before.

• Youth are receiving the message by different sources such as magazines, song lyrics, videos, movies and symbols on clothing or other products that Marijuana is cool and everybody is using it.

• In recent years people were led to believe that marijuana is of less concern.

• People were even led to believe that marijuana could have benefits.

• Some of today�s parents used marijuana earlier in their lives or are still using and may not be comfortable to counsel their children against it.

Teens need to be informed about the facts regarding marijuana. Teens should know that the majority of people in their age do not use marijuana.

 back to the top

• THE REASONS TO QUIT SMOKING MARIJUANA

  • Live longer.

  • Lungs will be healthier.

  • Save money.

  • Brain won�t get damaged and remember more.

  • People will stop nagging you to quit.

  • You won�t smell bad.

  • You won�t be worried about doing something wrong, illegal and getting arrested.

  • You will drive better and safer.

  • You won�t be moody one day, happy the other day, and so you will have healthier relationships with family and friends.

  • You will be able to think clearly and be able to make healthy decisions.

  • You will have more desire and motivation to do things.

  • You will engage more with healthy activities.

  • Your parents and friends will be proud of you

  • You will enjoy a better social life and friendships.

2 доклад

Reasons teenagers take drugs

Young people use drugs for similar reasons that adults do – to change how they feel because they want to feel better or different. Reasons may include:

• Socialising with friends, peer pressure or the need to feel part of a group

• Relaxation or fun

• Boredom

• Curiosity, experimentation or wanting to take risks

• To escape from psychological or physiological pain.

Drugs commonly used by teenagers

Alcohol, cannabis and tobacco are the three most commonly used drugs among young people. According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey of Australians aged 14–19 years, in 2010:

• 67 per cent had tried alcohol and just over one in five (21.1 per cent) were drinking alcohol on a weekly basis.

• One in five (21.5 per cent) had tried cannabis.

• Just under 12 per cent had tried tobacco and just under seven per cent smoked on a daily basis.

• Just over two per cent had tried amphetamines for non-medical reasons.

• 4.7 per cent had tried ecstasy.

• 2.1 per cent had tried inhalants – such as petrol, glue and solvents.

• 2.1 per cent had tried cocaine.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey of Australians also found that just 0.3 per cent of 14–19 year olds had tried heroin in 2007 (statistics for this age group are not available for 2010).

Cannabis as a ‘gateway’ drug for teenagers

Many parents are concerned that if their child tries cannabis, it will only be a matter of time before they progress to other drugs, such as amphetamines and heroin. However, there is no evidence to support the theory that cannabis is a ‘gateway’ drug that automatically leads to the use of other drugs.

Preventing drug use in teenagers

There are no parenting skills or behaviours that guarantee a young person will never touch drugs. However, parents and guardians can reduce the possibility of a young person experiencing drug problems in a number of ways. Suggestions include:

• Foster a close and trusting relationship with your child from an early age and support and encourage positive behaviour.

• Model appropriate behaviour such as drinking moderately, not smoking and not using illicit drugs.

• Establish agreements and guidelines about what is acceptable behaviour around alcohol and drugs.

• Encourage a healthy approach to life including good foods, regular exercise and sports.

• Encourage your child to have more than one group of friends.

• Allow your child to practise responsibility and develop good decision-making skills from an early age.

• Keep yourself informed about drugs and educate your child on the dangers of drug use. Do not exaggerate or make information up.

• Have open and honest discussions about drugs.