A Parent's Guide to Teen Addiction: Professional Advice on Signs, Symptoms, What to Say, and How to Help

by Laurence M. Westreich

Overview

From Berkeley to the Bronx, teenage addiction has reached epidemic levels. Parents may suspect their teen’s substance use, but often don’t know if their teen is addicted or what to do about it. Dr. Laurence Westreich, an addiction expert and the father of two teenagers, helps parents navigate the fraught addiction landscape in A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction. Divided into three sections, this book—based on the author’s decades of experience evaluating and treating teenagers who use substances—guides parents from the moment they suspect their teen has a substance abuse problem to the steps families must take after intensive treatment. Dr. Westreich: •Lays out the facts of teen addiction and explains how to recognize a problem with a teen •Details what parents need to know about the substances that teenagers commonly use •Provides information on what to do about the substance abuse, including how to find good one-on-one addiction therapy, how to encourage a teen to enter an outpatient program or inpatient facility, and how to line up aftercare treatment Best of all, he includes “tough talk” dialogues that parents can tailor to their specific situation with their teen. This practical, hopeful, and reassuring book helps parents put their teen on the healthy and life-affirming road to recovery.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781510728363
Publisher:	Skyhorse
Publication date:	10/17/2017
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	611,441
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

Laurence M. Westreich, MD, is an addiction psychiatrist, a professor at NYU Medical School, and the author of Helping the Addict You Love. He has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, WABC-TV, Fox News, Radio America, Sirius Satellite Radio, WOR-AM, and AP Radio Network, and speaks to schools and community groups on an ongoing basis. He resides in Montclair, New Jersey.

Table of Contents

Introduction xiii

Love Is a Battlefield xiv

The Battle Begins xv

Section I What You Need To Know About Teenagers, Drugs, and Substance Use

1 The Facts about Teenagers and Substance Use 3

Other Definitions of Addiction 4

What's the Problem? 4

Tough Talk Dialog: "Dad, I'm Fine." 5

What's My Teenager Using? How Addictive is It? 6

The Scope of Substance Use: From Experimentation to Addiction 7

Rebellion and Addiction 9

Tough Talk Dialog: "Marijuana is Natural!" 10

There's No Such Thing as a Typical Teenage Addict 10

Where Teenagers Learn about Drugs and Alcohol 11

Points to Remember 13

2 Recognizing a Problem 15

Defining the Problem 15

Health 16

Relationships 18

School 19

Tough Talk Dialog: "The Teachers Just Hate Me!" 20

The Law 21

Defining the Problem: Warning Bells 22

Denying the Problem 24

Tough Talk Dialog: "Maybe I Had a Sip of Beer." 25

Covering Up for Friends 26

Everyone Does It 27

How Parents Should React 28

Points to Remember 29

Section II Specific Substances and Problems

3 Alcohol and Cigarettes 33

How About a Zero-Tolerance Policy for Alcohol? 34

Chances Are, Your Teenager Will Use Alcohol 35

She'll Probably Try Cigarettes, Too 36

What if You Use Alcohol or Cigarettes? 36

Assessing Your Teen's Alcohol Use 37

Warning Bells: Alcohol 38

Preventing Car Accidents 38

Alcohol Poisoning and Alcohol Withdrawal 38

How Do I Get My Child into Alcohol Treatment-and Keep Her There? 40

Cigarettes 40

Points to Remember 41

4 Illegal Stimulants: Cocaine and Methamphetamine 43

Legal vs. Illegal Stimulants: What's the Difference? 44

What Stimulants Do 45

Bath Salts 46

Warning Bells: Illegal Stimulants 46

How Do Teenagers Take Stimulants? 47

Cocaine 101 48

Tough Talk Dialog: "I Was Just Holding Chrissy's Cocaine." 48

Methamphetamine 101 49

Points to Remember 50

5 Marijuana and Other Hallucinogens 51

Marijuana 101 51

Warning Bells: Marijuana 52

Gateway Drug, Medicine, or Just a High? 52

Is There Such a Thing as Marijuana Withdrawal? 54

Symptoms of Marijuana Withdrawal 54

Your Best Course of Action 55

Tough Talk Dialog: "What? You Were Smoking Pot?" 55

Hallucinogens 101 57

MDMA (Ecstasy, X) 58

LSD 58

Salvia, "K-2," and Other Marijuana Substitutes 59

Ketamine (K) and PCP (Phencyclidine) 60

Magic Mushrooms 60

Inhalants 60

Talking to Your Hallucinogen-Using Teenager 61

Tough Talk Dialog: "But You Did Drugs, Dad!" 61

Points to Remember 63

6 Sedatives: Opioids and Benzodiazepines 65

Opioids 101 65

Warning Bells: Opioids 67

What to Do About Opioid Overdose 68

Sorting Out the Differences 69

Why Do Kids Use Opioids? 70

Tough Talk Dialog: "I Need It to Study." 71

Talking to Your Opioid-Using Teenager 72

Tough Talk Dialog: "HEROIN? How Could You?" 72

Using Opioid Withdrawal to Get Your Teenager into Treatment 74

Maintenance Treatment for Opioid Addiction 74

Benzodiazepines 101 75

Warning Bells: Benzodiazepines 76

How Benzodiazepines Affect Your Teenager 76

Steps to Take if Your Teenager is Using Benzodiazepines 78

Points to Remember 78

7 Performance-Enhancing Drugs: Prescription Stimulants and Steroids 79

Focused and Energetic: The Temptations of Stimulant Medications 80

The Long and Short of Stimulant Medications 81

Is My Teenager Misusing Stimulant Medication? 83

Warning Bells: Stimulant Medications 83

What About ADD Medications and Addiction? 83

Tough Talk Dialog: "Everyone Uses Ritalin® to Study!" 84

Good Medicine Gone Bad 85

Tough Talk Dialog: "I Just Use It for Tests." 85

Strong and Sexy: The Allure of Anabolic Steroids 87

Know Your Anabolic Steroids 88

Recognizing Steroid Use 89

Warning Bells: Steroids 89

Tough Talk Dialog: "The Pros Do It!" 90

The Downsides of Steroids 91

Treating Steroid Use: A Team Approach 93

Points to Remember 93

8 Addictions to Sex, Food, and Gambling 95

How to Recognize Problems with Food, Sex, and Gambling 96

Warning Bells: Food, Sex, and Gambling Addictions 96

Recognizing Your Teenager's Eating Disorder 97

Warning Bells: Eating 97

Facing Your Teenager's Eating Disorder 98

Tough Talk Dialog: "I Just Want To Be in Shape." 98

Getting Treatment for Your Teenager's Eating Disorder 99

Understanding Teenage Sexuality 100

How Do I Know It's Sexual Addiction? 101

Warning Bells: Sex 102

Talking to Your Teenager About Sexual Addiction 102

Tough Talk Dialog: "My Sex Life is None of Your Business!" 103

Helping Your Sex-Addicted Teenager 105

How Much Gambling Is Too Much? 105

Warning Bells: Gambling 106

Talking to Your Gambling-Addicted Teenager 106

Tough Talk Dialog: "Don't You Want Me To Make My Own Money?" 107

Twenty Questions from Gamblers Anonymous 108

How to Handle Your Teenager's Gambling 109

Points to Remember 110

9 Dual Diagnosis: Mental Illness and Addiction 111

Recognizing Mental Illness 112

Warning Bells: Mental Illness 112

Tough Talk Dialog: "He's Just Going Through a Phase." 113

Making a Dual Diagnosis 113

Do Drugs and Alcohol Cause Mental Illness? 115

Depression 115

Anxiety 115

Bipolar Disorder 116

Schizophrenia 116

Starting Treatment 117

Making the System Work for You 118

Medicating Your Teenager's Dual Diagnosis 119

Tough Talk Dialog: "I Just Don't Like the Idea of Taking Medications." 120

Is My Teenager Being Overmedicated? 121

Is My Teenager Being Under medicated? 122

Stopping Psychiatric Medications 122

Points to Remember 124

Section III The Best Possible Treatment

10 How to Find Good Treatment and Get Your Teenager to It 127

Does My Teenager Need Help? 127

Should I Test My Teenager for Drugs and Alcohol? 128

Tough Talk Dialog: "You Don't Trust Me!" 130

Choosing a Therapist 131

Finding Help 131

Inpatient vs. Outpatient Programs for Your Teenager 133

What About Alcoholics Anonymous? 134

"I Won't Go!" 136

When Your Teenager Refuses Treatment 136

Tough Talk Dialog: "I Just Don't Want to Leave My Friends." 137

Points to Remember 140

11 Outpatient Treatment for Your Substance-Using Teenager 141

What to Expect from Outpatient Treatment 142

How to Choose an Outpatient Treatment Program 143

Finding the Right Outpatient Program: Questions to Ask 143

If Your Teenager Says "No" to Outpatient Treatment 144

Tough Talk Dialog: "Outpatient Makes Me Want to Use-It's Stupid!" 144

Should My Teenager's Therapist Be Involved? 145

Points to Remember 147

12 Inpatient Treatment for Your Substance-Using Teenager 149

When to Choose Inpatient Treatment 150

What to Expect from Detox and Rehab 150

Negotiating for Health Insurance Coverage 152

Wilderness Experiences 152

Persuading Your Teenager to Go to Inpatient Treatment 153

Tough Talk Dialog: "It Isn't Real Life!" 154

Can We Force Our Teenager to Go to Inpatient Treatment? 155

A Tale of Caring Concern 157

Points to Remember 158

13 Aftercare: The Next Step After Intensive Treatment 159

Aftercare in Action 160

How Much Aftercare Does My Teenager Need? 161

Peer-Led Support Groups in Aftercare 163

The Step-Down System 164

Halfway Houses 165

Resistance to Aftercare 166

Tough Talk Dialog: "I Don't Need All This Treatment Anymore." 166

Drug and Alcohol Testing in Aftercare 167

Tough Talk Dialog: "No More Pills, but I Can Drink!" 168

Responding to Slips and Relapses 169

When to Go Back to Inpatient Treatment 170

Points to Remember 172

Section IV Appendices

Appendix A Glossary of Selected Drug Terminology and Slang 175

Appendix B Readers' Resources 207

Appendix C Bibliography 213

Acknowledgments 217

Index 219

Editorial Reviews

"Dr. Westreich has written an excellent resource for parents, teenagers and clinicians dealing with a wide array of problems that go far beyond the simple matter of substance abuse recognition. This is a very thorough book that addresses the diagnosis and treatment of such varied conditions as alcohol abuse to eating disorders. Although many books have been written on this subject, Dr. Westreich has developed a practical text that combines scientific expertise with a practical approach. As a sports medicine physician, it is also refreshing to see a substance abuse book cover the difficult and often unrecognized topic of anabolic steroid abuse in teenagers. This is an impressive work and I will definitely recommend it to my teenage patients and their parents."—Gary Green, MD, Medical Director, Major League Baseball

“As Director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy, I saw firsthand how parents and families struggle to find the best way to help their teenagers cope with substance use and abuse problems. In A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction, Dr. Westreich gives practical, sensible advice about how to address teens and get them the care they need, with the firmness and compassion that only a parent can provide. I recommend it as a first line of defense if your teen is exhibiting the signs of substance use or abuse, or other addictive behaviors.” —Gen. Barry McCaffrey (USA ret.)

"Dr. Westreich masterfully provides a skilled balance between the science and art of understanding addictions in teens. Using both case examples and didactics, he provides a very pragmatic guide that is based on professionally accepted methods punctuated by his clinical experience in leading a child out of an addiction. A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction will be a very important asset to any family who is suffering with teenage addiction.” —Timothy Willens, MD, Clinical Director at the Center for Center for Addiction Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

“Dr. Westreich’ s book presents a commonsense and user-friendly model for family members who want to help their drug- and alcohol-using teen. The scenarios and dialogues give valuable direction for managing an addicted teen’s often self-destructive and frightening behavior, and would be useful for anyone in this situation.” —Dr. Herbert D. Kleber, Founder and Director Emeritus of the Division on Substance Abuse at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York State Psychiatric Institute

“Dad, I’m fine! Marijuana is natural. I need it to study. But, you did drugs, dad. Dr. Westreich has heard them all. And now he has put all his incredible experience, science, wisdom, and, yes, common sense in A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction. If one day you find yourself having a teenager in the family, this little volume of solid gold medical advice is your best guide through the jungle." —Petros Levounis, MD, MA, Professor and Chair, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

"Dr. Westreich has written an excellent resource for parents, teenagers and clinicians dealing with a wide array of problems that go far beyond the simple matter of substance abuse recognition. This is a very thorough book that addresses the diagnosis and treatment of such varied conditions as alcohol abuse to eating disorders. Although many books have been written on this subject, Dr. Westreich has developed a practical text that combines scientific expertise with a practical approach. As a sports medicine physician, it is also refreshing to see a substance abuse book cover the difficult and often unrecognized topic of anabolic steroid abuse in teenagers. This is an impressive work and I will definitely recommend it to my teenage patients and their parents."—Gary Green, MD, Medical Director, Major League Baseball

“As Director of the National Office of Drug Control Policy, I saw firsthand how parents and families struggle to find the best way to help their teenagers cope with substance use and abuse problems. In A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction, Dr. Westreich gives practical, sensible advice about how to address teens and get them the care they need, with the firmness and compassion that only a parent can provide. I recommend it as a first line of defense if your teen is exhibiting the signs of substance use or abuse, or other addictive behaviors.” —Gen. Barry McCaffrey (USA ret.)

"Dr. Westreich masterfully provides a skilled balance between the science and art of understanding addictions in teens. Using both case examples and didactics, he provides a very pragmatic guide that is based on professionally accepted methods punctuated by his clinical experience in leading a child out of an addiction. A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction will be a very important asset to any family who is suffering with teenage addiction.” —Timothy Willens, MD, Clinical Director at the Center for Center for Addiction Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital

“Dr. Westreich’ s book presents a commonsense and user-friendly model for family members who want to help their drug- and alcohol-using teen. The scenarios and dialogues give valuable direction for managing an addicted teen’s often self-destructive and frightening behavior, and would be useful for anyone in this situation.” —Dr. Herbert D. Kleber, Founder and Director Emeritus of the Division on Substance Abuse at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and the New York State Psychiatric Institute

“Dad, I’m fine! Marijuana is natural. I need it to study. But, you did drugs, dad. Dr. Westreich has heard them all. And now he has put all his incredible experience, science, wisdom, and, yes, common sense in A Parent’s Guide to Teen Addiction. If one day you find yourself having a teenager in the family, this little volume of solid gold medical advice is your best guide through the jungle." —Petros Levounis, MD, MA, Professor and Chair, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

From the Publisher