Could your depressed teen turn to drugs?

A NIDA educational pamphlet. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
If you have a teenager that is struggling with depression, be forewarned there is a good chance your teen could seek drug use as a means to self medicate. While some parents may believe alcohol consumption and drugs are a rite of passage for many teenagers, those teens that suffer from mental distress are more likely to become addicted to alcohol and mood altering drugs. Once these drugs are used there is a great risk of a lifelong addiction.

"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is an old saying that rings true with depression, teens and drug use. If you notice that your teen is showing signs of depression the sooner you get them treated by a qualified medical professional the better your chances will be at steering your teen away from drug abuse and a lifelong drug dependency on alcohol and other drugs.

Become educated with the reality of depression and do not assume your teens prolonged depression is something your teen can just "snap out of." Clinical Depression is an illness of the brain that is measurable and usually the result of factors like heredity, chemical imbalances and childhood trauma.

Recovering addicts and depression during the holidays

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You would think that recovering addicts would have so much to be thankful for during the holidays that they'd never get depression. We know now that many addicts suffer from depression aside from their addiction, and, in fact a good deal of their addiction stems from self medicating via pain killers. It is really imperative that recovering addicts find strength and help through their sponsors and to also separately have their depression treated. If you or someone you know is suffering from addiction, or depression and live in South Carolina, see the *link at the end of this article.

Holidays seem to pose a lot of risks for depression with recovering addicts. Trying to stay clean and sober when the whole world seems to be celebrating can often affect the addict's ability to be able to withstand the temptations. Loneliness, even coming down off the former high, can bring about powerful feelings of depression. Things that a recovering addict, or their loved one need to pay attention to are the signs and symptoms of depression.

The symptoms are as follows:

1. Lack of interest in any activities formerly enjoyed. Work, sex, hobbies, etc.
2. Difficulty focusing on tasks and completing tasks especially those that were easy to complete before. Indecisiveness and confusion.
3. Excessive tiredness, low energy.
4. Insomnia or sleeping too much.
5. Feelings of hopelessness, guilt and unreasonable fears
6. Committing suicide, or hurting someone.
7. Loss of weight or gaining weight from either under eating or over eating.

You should be concerned if you are experiencing at least four of these symptoms and if you are experiencing more than four, it is time to seek additional help and support. Depression can be easily treated, and if caught early can be contained in its severity for a recovering addict.

*South Carolina Treatment Centers

For those living elsewhere, see:

Recovery Connection

For those seeking additional information, and support for various types of drug abuse and addiction, see: The Addicted Family.

Related articles by this author:

• Recovering addicts: Avoiding triggers during the holidays
• Celebrities that paid the price of addiction in 2011
• Tips for recovering alcoholics during the holidays