Tolerance, as it relates to alcohol dependence and drug addiction, is often misunderstood by many in the general public.  In the manner that drug and alcohol tolerance functions, it can be a safety mechanism to the body and, at the same time, deadly.  This makes awareness of the subject critical for anyone who engages in alcohol abuse or drug abuse, as well as those in recovery.

It can easily be assumed that tolerance means that an individual can drink more alcohol without getting drunk, or handle drug use in a seemingly controlled manner.  With this assumption comes the belief that these “abilities” are an example of the natural differences that exist from one individual to another.  While this is partially true, the nature of alcohol and drug tolerance is much more complicated.

Alcohol tolerance is the example with which most people can relate.  Consider the amount of alcohol you need to drink before you feel the effects, or “buzzed”.  Let’s say this is 2 beers.  If you drink 2 beers every day, over time you will feel less of an effect.  If you want to feel the same effect, you must drink more alcohol.  The amount of alcohol needed for the same feeling will continue to increase as you add more alcohol.  

The same concept works with drugs.  Alcohol abuse or drug abuse can result from tolerance since individuals will chase that feeling by drinking or using more on each occasion.  If the cycle continues with regular daily alcohol or drug intake, the body can become physically dependent and alcoholism or drug addiction is the result.  

On this road to addiction that we just followed, the brain has protected the body from overdose, with tolerance, by adjusting to the higher levels of substance use.  This benefit of drug tolerance can become a dangerous consequence, though, for recovering individuals who relapse.  The addicted brain still needs a large amount of drugs for an effect, but the body returns to a lower tolerance of what is essentially a poison.

At the time of first use on a relapse, the brain will dictate the most recent amount of drugs used to get a desired effect.  If the formerly recovering addict is not careful, this amount can easily cause a drug overdose or even be fatal.  Many drug addicts are not aware of this fact, and will even ignore warnings from fellow drug users because they don’t realize the consequences they face.

While alcoholics are less likely to overdose on alcohol during first use on a relapse, they may experience what is known as a lack of tolerance.  At this point, a drunken feeling may result from only 1 drink.  Lack of tolerance can actually occur with anyone who drinks alcohol, but it is typically coupled with alcohol dependence.  Of course, that 1 drink will still not be enough to satisfy alcoholics and they can become a danger to themselves through inebriation and alcohol’s effect on the body.

This information is good to share with teens, friends in recovery, or anyone you may know who engages in alcohol abuse or drug abuse.  Too many see tolerance as a benefit both early in substance use and in addiction.  Tolerance is explained in effective alcohol and drug treatment as part of addiction education groups to prevent accidental overdoses among those who may relapse.  Bringing this awareness to the general public may save even more lives.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment and addiction education.  We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

The senior prom at high schools across the country is a special evening of celebration for most teens.  To most of them, there is a sense of freedom involved that is typically supported by parents.  The problem with this is that too many youths see this freedom as an open door to teen alcohol abuse.  And even if they don’t drink, it is likely that they will condone it for others and may suffer injury because of it.

It is a “party night” for almost every senior in high school across the country whether they attend the Prom or not.  For most of them, this is the night where they feel free to act like adults.  One aspect of adulthood in the United States is the “right” to drink alcohol.  So it is common for adolescents to believe they have this same privilege, even though they are not of legal age.

Planning for this big drinking night can begin weeks before.  Groups of friends will pool money and figure out how they will purchase liquor.  Some parents will actually chip in and get alcohol for them, with the hope that the youths will follow orders to be safe.  They may even rent a limousine and get a hotel room, thinking this is a responsible move.  

As talk among peers spreads, so does the pressure for others to engage in youth alcohol abuse.  Adolescents feel a need to be a part of the crowd, so they will either join the party or be silent about others drinking in their group.  The danger is in the perception of risk.  A recent survey showed that while about 9 out of 10 teens believe that either they or their friends will drink on prom night, only about one-quarter see any danger in it.

Other than the obvious dangers that come from driving under the influence of alcohol, there are risks from uninhibited behavior of violence, thrill seeking, and sexual assault.  Adolescent alcohol abuse also brings a higher likelihood of future problems with alcohol dependence.  One does not need to get drunk to be a victim of these activities; they only need to be close by.  Parents and educators should strongly caution teens about these consequences regardless of how responsible they have proven to be in the past.

The main tool in the prevention of adolescent alcohol abuse is education.  Adolescent alcohol treatment is only necessary when education does not deter teen alcohol abuse.  When teens are provided with negative consequences, they may think twice before abusing alcohol or condoning it among their friends.  Alcohol abuse might seem like fun to many teens, but they need to hear about the negatives.

Promoting a safe prom means more joy among the attendees, and less risk of a tragedy occurring on prom night.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment, as well as prevention education.  We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Teen drug addiction does not only occur with drugs like heroin and methamphetamines.  Prescription opiate and benzodiazepine abuse can quickly lead to addiction, and we should not forget about marijuana and alcohol which are still drugs.  Parents need to be aware of these facts so they can easily spot the signs of impending drug addiction with their youth.

Don’t be fooled by the idea that if you don’t catch your adolescent using strong drugs, then it is not a big deal.  Granted, finding evidence of heroin or methamphetamine use can scare any parent into contacting the closest drug treatment center.  Too many parents, though, do not take the same drastic action with other drugs, and may simply resort to grounding or other minor punishments.

Alcohol and marijuana are the best examples.  Many parents still believe it is okay to allow teen alcohol use in the home, in hopes that they will not drink outside the home.  In most cases they will and put themselves at risk of injury and death.  Adolescents, in most cases, simply don’t drink responsibly like adults.  Getting a buzz is the purpose as opposed to having a social moment with friends.

The 21st Century has seen an equalizing with alcohol of the social acceptance of marijuana.  The drug has become normalized with such a high percentage of the population having smoked pot in younger days.  If marijuana use caused them no major problems, parents may allow their teens to use it or just wave it off as typical youth behavior.   What they don’t know is that marijuana is now much more potent and addictive, and can also lead to injury or death if they drive under the influence of pot.

Now prescription drugs like Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Oxycodone (Oxycontin), and benzodiazepines (Xanax and Valium) have become popular with adolescents.  Adolescent prescription drug abuse is largely driven by a low perception of risk.  Teens believe there is no danger that comes with the high, as long as they take the drugs in controlled situations.  But drug addiction can take hold quickly with these drugs, which can lead them to try heroin addiction since it is cheaper and more potent.

Drug addiction treatment usually begins with drug detox or alcohol detox.  Drug withdrawal symptoms include flu-like aches and intestinal problems among others, and alcohol withdrawal can be fatal in serious cases.  It is best to avoid the need for medical detoxification before teen drug treatment.  The way to do this is to treat all teen drug abuse equally, and seek treatment at the earliest signs of use.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment, as well as prevention education.  We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

It’s no secret that a certain percentage of teens will recreationally use alcohol or drugs before they finish high school.  We would all like to wave a magic wand and put a stop to it, but that is just a dream.  We can only do our best to teach adolescents the damage that alcohol abuse and drug abuse will cause in their lives.

Sometimes it seems like a futile effort.  Some of our youth will engage in substance use no matter what they are taught, or even if they face legal and academic consequences.  Many of them begin using out of curiosity or peer pressure, and others do so in order to escape negative feelings.  Some are even undiagnosed with mental health disorders, and find comfort in self-medicating.

The consequences of teen alcohol and drug abuse are evident to anyone whose primary work is in service to adolescents.  At schools, we see promising students suddenly miss homework assignments or watch grades drop on tests.  Youth organizations and similar groups notice that some kids just stop attending meetings and functions.

Sadly, there is no magic wand that will put an end to adolescent substance abuse.  Prevention is an effort that must continue, though, because teens will otherwise not hear our message of consequences.  They will be left only with reasons to try alcohol and drugs, and none make them think first about future problems.  Although it may seem like a lost cause, at times, lives are saved every day.

In times of doubt, remember that when teens engage in alcohol abuse or drug abuse they increase the likelihood of future problems with alcohol dependence or drug addiction.  Each and every adolescent that hears this message gets the opportunity to live into adulthood alcohol and drug free.  At the very least, we can attempt to delay the start of substance use until after adolescence.

It is also important that we know when to refer teens to youth alcohol and drug treatment.  There is often a delay because of the mistaken parallel between adolescent substance abuse and adult substance abuse.  In actuality, teens need to at least speak with an addiction counselor at the first sign of abuse so the true nature of the problem can be understood in each case.

Adolescent alcohol and drug treatment helps teens to discover why they use alcohol or drugs.  This allows them to grow by dealing with life problems instead of escaping with substance use.  When mental health disorders are discovered, the treatment center should include in-house care for co-occurring mental health disorders.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment, as well as prevention education.  We specialize in treatment for mental health and substance use disorders, and have two primary medical care clinics in the San Fernando Valley and Antelope Valley.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence, drug addiction, or co-occurring mental health disorders, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Most parents take the “Not my kid” approach to teen alcohol and drug abuse.  Statistics show, though, that many of them are not facing reality.  Most of the adolescents who engage in alcohol abuse or drug abuse can fool their parents, unless the parents know what signs to look for.

It is difficult for parents to accept that teen alcohol abuse or drug abuse are the reasons why their children’s’ grades are slipping or friends are changing.  They see it as a reflection on themselves.  So teens are rarely confronted with the subject until parents find drugs, or after an automobile accident or arrest.

There are many reasons, other than the obvious, that parents should try to stop youth alcohol or drug abuse as soon as it begins.  Besides being injured, causing injury or death to others, and having arrest records, teens do permanent damage to their minds and bodies by using alcohol and drugs.  At the very least, brain development suffers and the likelihood of future problems with alcoholism is increased.

Some clear signs are the smell of alcohol or drugs, missing money from around the house, and finding drugs or paraphernalia in hidden places.  These signs usually mean that teens have used alcohol or drugs for some time, and became complacent.  Adolescents are very careful about getting caught in early stages of use.

By the time the above signs appear other things should be evident, and parents can address the problem early.  Mood changes and defensiveness is difficult to measure with teens.  So when an abrupt change in friendships occurs, parents should insist on meeting the new acquaintances.  A sudden change in grades, loss of interest in favorite hobbies, and unusual outbursts are also very telling.

A very strong sign of teen substance abuse is when appearance and hygiene become messy, but perfumes and colognes are regularly used.  They don’t seem to care about how they look, yet they must mask the smell of drugs and alcohol.  

When parents see changes like those listed above, they should talk about them with their teens.  There are too many consequences to ignore them due to what is most-likely pride.  Adolescents need to hear the negatives of substance abuse from their parents to counter what they hear from their friends.  Otherwise, they may end up in alcohol or drug detox and treatment.

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Teen alcohol abuse and drug abuse can lead to future problems with alcohol dependence and drug addiction.  The upward trend of alcohol and drug use among adolescents is well covered, but until now there has not been a comprehensive, state-by-state report.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has provided these reports.

These reports should be of interest to parents and professionals alike.  Since the reports are based on nationwide polls that include data from each state and the District of Columbia, they provide good local and comparative national information.  

Parents, for example, can learn whether alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs or methamphetamine are the concern in their respective states.  This, along with stats on youth perceptions of risk, can help parents to prioritize discussions within the family.  They can also learn about substance abuse and mental health treatment resources that are available locally.  

Professionals can use the reports for hints on where their continuing education should be focused.  If the youth drug abuse problem in a particular state is with prescription drugs, it is important for counselors, mental health and medical professionals to learn as much about them as possible.  

The Treatment Needs section of the reports may also be some good reading for government officials.  California, for example, is below the national average in meeting treatment needs.  But overall drug use trends are at or better than the national average over the past few years.  This can likely be attributed to the success of Prop 36 and offering treatment instead of incarceration.  This has reduced the amount of non-violent drug offenders from returning to a life of drugs and crime.

However it is that alcohol abuse or drug abuse is a part of your life, these reports provide some very helpful information.  The excerpt from SAMHSAs introduction to the reports below shows some of the general topics covered.  It is followed by links to the map of state reports and the national report.

-- Begin external content --

Entitled Adolescent Behavioral Health: States in Brief, the reports provide the following information for each individual state, the District of Columbia and the country as a whole through a variety of charts, graphs and accompanying text:
 

• Adolescents' risk perceptions associated with substance use
• Prevalence of illicit substance and alcohol use
• Number and type of substance abuse treatment facilities
• Numbers and trends on those seeking treatment for substance abuse
• Levels of those needing, but not receiving substance abuse treatment
• Levels of underage smoking
• Mental health indicators

 
 
The data included in these States in Brief reports are drawn from three large national surveys sponsored by SAMHSA - the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the Treatment Episode Data Set and the National Survey on Substance Abuse Treatment Services.

-- Source: http://www.samhsa.gov/newsroom/advisories/0911121635.aspx --
-- State Reports Map: http://samhsa.gov/statesinbrief/ --
-- National Report: http://samhsa.gov/StatesInBrief/2009/teens/OASTeenReportUS.pdf --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcoholism or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Teen behaviors are clues to parents that they are engaging in alcohol abuse or drug abuse.  They just need to know what to look for.  Gambling, for example, is a possible sign that a youth has a future with alcohol and drug use.  We can use this example to explain a common factor among those with alcohol dependence and drug addiction.

Humans have a natural defense that keeps them from engaging in behaviors that will cause loss, pain, or destruction to themselves.  With gambling, individuals will typically quit when they win or lose a little.  But a small percentage will experience a thrill from gambling that will keep them playing whether they are winning or “losing the farm”.

The thrill associated with gambling is closely associated with the desire to escape feelings with drugs or alcohol.  It isn’t just a distraction from feelings.  Brain chemicals are released that mimic the effect of alcohol and drugs for an addict.  So adolescents who have the fever for gambling are basically no different from those abusing alcohol or drugs.  They just use behavior rather than a substance.

Gambling, internet use, video games, shopping, and sex are only a few of the behaviors that alcoholics and addicts in recovery use in a cross-addictive manner.  So if parents know that teens are gambling, it is a good idea to discuss adolescent alcohol abuse or drug abuse with them.  With teen prescription drug abuse on a fast rising trend, it is better to be safe than to dismiss the behavior as a “phase”.

The excerpt below from Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Weekly offers a brief view of how teen gambling could be a sign of other problems.  A link to the journal’s website follows.  Parents need to be aware of all signs of teen alcohol or drug abuse if we want to reverse trends.

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Risky or problem gambling among young adolescent boys is associated with general deviance at this age, according to a study published in the October issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. According to John Welte, Ph.D., and colleagues, youth without symptoms of conduct disorder have a five percent rate of risky or problem gambling, compared with a rate of 23 percent among youth with conduct disorders.

However, while this association is very strong among 14- to-15 year-olds, it does not exist among 20-to-21 year-olds. The authors conclude that risky gambling that emerges in young adulthood has different origins.

-- Source: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/110575473/home --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides youth alcohol and drug treatment as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare in alcohol and drug treatment.  If you or a loved one needs help with alcohol dependence or drug addiction, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.

Parents need to be vigilant when it comes to adolescent alcohol abuse.  Teens can obtain alcohol in many ways, and most parents do their best to prevent this from happening.  But the disturbing fact is that youths get alcohol either at parties or from adults about half the time.

Parents should understand that teens abuse alcohol usually in response to peer pressure.  If alcohol is available at a party, even the most “straight-arrow” adolescent may drink a little.  While this may seem tame to many individuals these days, just a little drink could be the start of a downward spiral.  That little drink will most likely go undetected, promoting future use due to the lack of consequences.

So how does alcohol get to the parties? Studies indicate that the use of fake identification and less-than-honest liquor store employees are not the only problem.  Adult relatives and friends are actually buying alcohol for adolescent parties where they know abuse will take place.  Considering all we know about alcohol’s effect on the body and adolescent brain development, it begs the question, “Why?”

One answer is the same as why teens drink; Peer pressure.  These adults want to be friends with adolescents, and some even prey on them sexually.  Many of these adults are friends of the family or extended family who are trusted by parents.  And, worst of all, some of them are the parents.

Yes, it is scary and disturbing.  But parents may need this type of shock to understand the magnitude of the youth alcohol abuse problem.  Since 1996 the data on how teens obtain alcohol has not changed.  The problem will not just go away.  Hopefully, information like this and our other articles on adolescent alcohol abuse will have an effect.

Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Weekly briefly reported on this subject, as shown below.  This publication can help parents and others to understand the problems of alcohol dependence and drug addiction.

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California teens obtain alcohol through house parties, adults

Although the state has made progress in curtailing the purchase of alcohol by minors, adolescents continue to obtain liquor at house parties or with the help of adults, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported October 11. Since 1996, the Target Responsibility For Alcohol Connected Emergencies (TRACE) unit of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control has investigated 23 serious incidents involving intoxicated teens in the county of San Diego.

Roughly half have involved alcohol consumed at house parties. This month a Rancho Santa Fe teen was killed in a car accident after he and his friends drank at a local party.

-- Source: http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/110575473/home --

Tarzana Treatment Centers in Los Angeles provides teen alcohol and drug treatment with education as part of our commitment to integrated behavioral healthcare.  If you or a loved one needs help with adolescent alcohol or drug abuse, please call us now at 800-996-1051 or contact us here.

Southern California Locations for Alcohol and Drug Treatment
Tarzana Treatment Centers has locations all over Southern California in Los Angeles County. Other than our central location in Tarzana, we have facilities in Lancaster in the Antelope Valley, Long Beach, and in Northridge and Reseda in the San Fernando Valley.